Court jails seven internet fraudsters in Edo

The Benin Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has secured the conviction and sentence of seven internet fraudsters before Justice AN Erhabor of Edo State High Court, sitting in Benin City.

According to a statement by the EFCC on its X.com handle on Friday, the convicts who were prosecuted between November 6 and 7 were Matthew Ebosa, Marvelous Osayenma, Imoniwe Joshua, Michael San, Alvin Osareni, Precious Imoniwe, and Mike Ajufo.

The seven convicts had been arrested by operatives of the Benin Zonal Directorate of the EFCC through a sting operation owing to their involvement in fraudulent internet activities.

The charges against them border on obtaining by false pretence, retention of proceeds of crime and possession of fraudulent documents.

The charge against Ebosa read, “That you Johnson Matthew Ebosa (m) on or about the 30th of October, 2024 within the jurisdiction of this honorable court did have in your possession documents which you knew or ought to have known contained false pretence, thereby committed an offense contrary to Section 6 and 8 (b) of the Advance Fee Fraud and other Fraud Related Offenses Act 2006 and punishable under Section 1(3) of the same Act.”

All the defendants pleaded guilty to their charges when they were read to them, prompting the prosecution counsel, FA Jirbo, KY Bello, Isa Agwai, to pray the court to convict and sentence them accordingly.

However, counsel to the defendants pleaded with the court to temper justice with mercy, stating that they have become remorseful for their actions.

Justice Erhabor on Thursday, convicted and sentenced San and Osareni to two years imprisonment or a fine of N200,000 each while the trio of Ebosa, Osayenma and Joshua bagged three years imprisonment or a fine of N200,000.

On Wednesday, Justice Erhabor convicted and sentenced Imoniwe to three years imprisonment or a fine of N200,000, while Ajufo bagged two years imprisonment or a fine of N200,000.

All the convicts forfeited their phones, laptops, and money in their respective bank accounts to the Federal Government, being proceeds of crime.