The Edo State High Court in Benin City has convicted and sentenced 11 internet fraudsters to varied jail terms for obtaining by false pretenses, advance fee fraud, and possession of fraudulent documents.
According to a statement issued on Friday by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission via X, Justice W.I. Aziegbemhin imposed the penalties after the EFCC’s Benin Zonal Directorate prosecuted the offenders on separate one-count charges.
The convicted are Izomor Samuel Efe, Nosakhare Bright, Emovon Destiny, Vincent Arogbo, Osarentin Morgan Aduwa, Osagiede Destiny Oghosa, Nosakhare Ernest Theophilus, Junior Emmanuel Efe, Osimen Princewill, Obamedo Clinton, and David Iyobor.
According to the EFCC, the offenders were nabbed in a sting operation based on solid intelligence linking them to fraudulent internet activity.
One of the charges, as presented against Efe, read, “That you, Justice Samuel Efe (m), on or about the 8th of February 2025, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did have in your possession documents which you knew or ought to have known contained false pretenses, thereby committing an offense contrary to Section 6 and 8(b) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act 2006, and punishable under Section 1(3) of the same Act.”
When the charges were read to the 11 individuals, they all pleaded guilty. Following their pleas, prosecution counsels F.A. Jirbo, I.K. Agwai, and Salihu Ahmed urged the court to convict and sentence them appropriately.
In response, the defense counsel asked for leniency, claiming that the defendants had expressed regret for their crimes.
Justice Aziegbemhin sentenced Izomor Efe and Nosakhare Bright to two years in jail, with the option of a N200,000 fine apiece. Emovon Destiny and Vincent Arogbo received similar two-year sentences, but with a punishment of N400,000 apiece.
Aduwa, Oghosa, Theophilus, Junior Efe, Princewill, Clinton, and Iyobor were all sentenced to three years in prison, with a fine of N200,000 apiece.
“In addition to their sentences, all the convicts forfeited their phones, laptop computers, and sums of money seen in their bank accounts to the federal government and undertook in writing to be of good behavior henceforth.
“The convicts’ journey to the correctional center began with their arrest in a sting operation by operatives of the Benin Zonal Directorate of the EFCC following credible intelligence that linked them to fraudulent internet activities,” the statement added.
