The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has secured the conviction of a 19-year-old and three other fraudsters over their involvement in internet-related crimes in Benin City, Edo State.
According to a Tuesday, September 5, 2023 statement signed by Wilson Uwujaren, Head, Media and Publicity of the EFCC, a State High Court sitting in Benin, on Monday, September 4, 2023, convicted and sentenced the four internet fraudsters to prison over fraud.
The statement disclosed that they were arrested over their involvement in internet-related fraud activities.
The convicts, Edah Edison, Akuche Cosmas Chigozie, Chidi Iredia Endurance Eddy, and Uchechukwu Victory Tabowei, were arraigned separately on one count of impersonation, possession of fraudulent documents, and obtaining by false pretence by the Benin Zonaal Command of the EFCC.
“The defendants pleaded guilty to their respective charges, prompting the prosecution counsel, Francis Jirbo, Salihu Ahmed, and Ibrahim Faisal, to pray the court to convict and sentence them accordingly,” the statement stated.
The statement reads, “Justice M. Itsueli of the Edo State High Court sitting in Benin City, Edo State, on Monday, September 4, 2023, convicted and sentenced four internet fraudsters to prison for fraud.
“The convicts are Edah Edison, Akuche Cosmas Chigozie (alias Philip Anderson), Chidi, Iredia Endurance Eddy, and Uchechukwu Victory Tabowei.
“They were arraigned separately on a one-count charge of impersonation, possession of fraudulent documents, and obtaining by false pretense by the Benin Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.
“They were arrested based on intelligence that linked them to alleged internet-related fraud activities. During the investigation, Edison, 23, who claimed to be a university graduate, was discovered to have impersonated Raymond Martin, a Bitcoin trader, in order to defraud unsuspecting victims.
“On his part, 19-year-old Iredia, an electronic apprentice, represented himself as Barrowman, a British dancer, in order to defraud his victim.
“The charge against Iredia reads: “That you, Iredia Endurance Eddy (m), sometime between 2019 and December 2021 in Benin City, Edo State, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, with intent to defraud, represented yourself to be Barrowman, a British dancer, on your Instagram and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 484 of the Criminal Code Law, Cap. 48 Laws of Bendel State of Nigeria (as applicable in Edo State) 1976”.
“The defendants pleaded guilty to their respective charges, prompting the prosecution counsel, Francis Jirbo, Salihu Ahmed, and Ibrahim Faisal, to pray the court to convict and sentence them accordingly.
“Justice Itsueli convicted and sentenced Edison and Iredia to three years imprisonment or a fine of N500, 000 each. Tabowei was sentenced to two years imprisonment or a fine of N500, 000, while Chigozie bagged one month’s imprisonment and a fine of N200,000.
“The court ordered the convicts to forfeit their mobile phones to the Federal Government of Nigeria through the EFCC, while Iredia will, in addition, forfeit the balance in his bank accounts to the Federal Government for onward delivery to the nominal complainant.
“The convicts are to undertake in writing to be of good behavior.”
