The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has secured the conviction of no fewer than 15 internet fraudsters in Benin City, the Edo State capital.
In a statement on Thursday, the EFCC noted that they were jailed after pleading guilty to a one-count separate charge bordering on obtaining, by false pretence, possession of fraudulent documents.
Following their prosecution by the EFCC and subsequent conviction, the court ordered the confiscation of over N40 million from the criminals.
Other items confiscated include luxury Mercedes-Benz cars, laptops, and iPhones.
The statement by the EFCC reads, “The Benin Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Monday and Tuesday, May 13 and May 14, 2024, secured the conviction of 15 internet fraudsters before Justices Efe Ikponmwonba and M. Itsueli of the Edo State High Court sitting in Benin City.
“The convicts are Sagay Favour, Efemini Kelvin Mudiaga, Izzi Evans, Okim Ekene, Jakpa Godspower, and Lucky Alao Seyi.
“Others are Adams Jarret, Mathew Ese, Oritsegbogwa Joseph, Joshua Lucky Ojabugbe, Emudiaga Akpojaro, Richard Promise, Aboh Daniel Bonfrey, Deniran Emmanuel Edafe, and Orode Ovie.
“They were jailed after pleading guilty to a one-count separate charge bordering on obtaining, by false pretence, possession of fraudulent documents upon arraignment by the Benin Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.
“The charge against Edafe reads: That you, Deniran Emmanuel Edafe (M), on or about the 3rd day of May, 2024, in Benin City, Edo State, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did have in your possession documents that you knew or ought to have known contained a false pretence and thereby committed an offence contrary to Sections 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.
“All the defendants pleaded guilty to their respective charges when they were read to them in court, prompting prosecution counsels F. A. Jirbo, I. M. Elodi, I.K. Agwai, K.Y. Bello, and Ahmed Salihu to pray to the court to convict them and sentence them accordingly.
“However, counsel for the defendants pleaded with the court to temper justice with mercy as they have become remorseful for their actions.
“Justice Ikponmwonba sentenced Evans, Favour, Godspower, Ekene, and Seyi to three years imprisonment or a fine of N100,000 (one hundred thousand naira) each, while Mudiaga bagged two years imprisonment or a fine of N200,000 (two hundred thousand naira).
“On Tuesday, May 14, Justice Itsueli convicted and sentenced Joseph, Ojeugba, Akpojoro, Bright, Aboh, Ovie, and Orede to three years imprisonment or a fine of N100,000 (one hundred thousand naira) each, while Matthew Ese and Jarret bagged two years imprisonment or a fine of N100,000.
“Justice Ikponmwonba ordered that the sum of N31,900,609.00 (Thirty One million, Nine Hundred Thousand, Six Hundred and Nine Thousand Naira) and the sum of N4,410,508.28 (Four million, Four Hundred and Ten thousand, Five hundred and Eight Naira, Twenty Eight Kobo) and the sum of 172 US dollars found in various bank accounts of Mudiaga and one Toyota Venza, being proceeds of crime, be forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria.
“The judge also ordered Ozim Ekene to forfeit the three vehicles recovered from him—the Mercedes-Benz ML350, Mercedes-Benz GLE450, and Mercedes-Benz C300—as proceeds of crime to the Federal Government.
“Justice Itsueli, in her ruling, ordered that four vehicles recovered from Mathew Ese and Ojabugbe—a Mercedes Benz 350, two Mercedes Benz GLK, and a Mercedes Benz ML—be forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria.
“All the convicts are to forfeit their phones, laptops, and balances in their various bank accounts, being instruments and proceeds of crime, to the Federal Government of Nigeria. They are to undertake, in writing, to be of good behaviour afterwards.
“They all bagged their imprisonment after being found guilty by the court upon their arrest and prosecution by the EFCC.”
