AN Edo State High Court Sitting in Benin City has sentenced three Internet fraudsters to seven years imprisonment.
The convicts Daniel Chidube Emeka, Ukazu Henry Chikwudi and Akputu Collins were arraigned by the Benin Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, separately on a one-count charge, bothering on impersonation and obtaining by false pretence.
The three ‘Yahoo boys’ were, however, given option of Two Hundred Thousand Naira (N200,000) each as fine by Justice Efe Ikponmwonba.
The defendants pleaded guilty to the charge when it was read to them individually by the court.
Arising from their pleas of guilt please, the Prosecution Counsels, Ibrahim Mohammed Esq. and I.K. Agwai Esq. prayed the court to convict and sentence the trio accordingly.
Justice Ikponmwonba, after taken their pleas as well as the submission of the prosecution counsels convicted and sentenced Emeka to three years imprisonment with an option of Two Hundred Thousand Naira ( N200, 000) as fine
While Collins and Chukwudi convicted and sentenced to two years imprisonment each, or a fine of (N200, 000) each.
The judge ordered forfeiture of a Mercedes-Benz GLK350 recovered from Emeka and the sum of N1,932,893.73 ( One Million, Nine Hundred and Thirty Two Thousand, Eight Hundred and Ninety Three Naira, Seventy Three kobo) in his Fidelity bank account.
Also to be forfeited are the defendant’s phones and balances in their other bank accounts-Sterling Bank, Keystone Bank, First Bank and Wema Bank as proceeds of crime.
The court ordered the permanent closure of the accounts, just as Justice Ikponmwonba ordered the convicts to undertake in writing to be of good behaviour henceforth.
