Six internet fraudsters popularly known as ‘Yahoo Boys’: Akinnodi Oyindamola, Akinlade Oluwole Stephen, Adekunle Junior Adeyemi, Iyeke Ochuko Prince, Ojo Oluwagbenga Emmanuel and Prince Onogbake were on Monday convicted and sentenced to prison by Justice Efe Ikponmwonba of Edo State High Court sitting in Benin City.
They were arraigned separately by the Benin Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on one count charge of possession of fraudulent documents.
The charge against Oyindamola reads. “That you, Akinnodi Oyindamola (M) on or about the 28th day of April 2023 in Benin City, Edo State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did have in your possession documents which you knew or ought to have known contain false pretence and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 6, read together with Section 8 (b) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act 2006 and punishable under section 1(3) of the same Act”.
Upon arraignment, the defendants pleaded guilty to their respective charges prompting the prosecution counsel, F.A. Jirbo, to ask the court to convict and sentence the defendants accordingly.
However, counsel to the defendants, Pascal Ugbome and B.A. Ambrose pleaded with the court to temper justice with mercy as the defendants were first-time offenders who have become remorseful for their actions.
Justice Ikponmwonba convicted and sentenced each of the defendants to three years imprisonment with an option of Two Hundred Thousand Naira fine.
Justice Ikponmwonba ordered that the balance in the GT bank account belonging to Oyindamola, three (3) Apple laptops, one Toyota Camry, one black Lexus 350, and one Lexus RX 350; the sum of N260, 000.00 (Two Hundred and Sixty Thousand Naira) recovered from Prince Onogbake and phones being proceeds and instruments of crime be forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria through the EFCC.
The judge further ordered that the bank accounts used as instruments of crime be closed. The defendants are to also undertake in writing to be of good behaviour.
Meanwhile, operatives of the Uyo Zonal Command of EFCC said they have arrested nine (9) suspected internet fraudsters around Itam Police Station Road in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.
The suspects are; Victor Etiowo, George Vincent, Daniel Joshua, Lambert Joshua, Johnny Jimmy, Elijah Asuquo Ekwere, Amos Cosmos, Otobong Emmanuel and Enomfon Jackson Akpabio.
They were arrested following actionable intelligence concerning their alleged online criminal activities at the said location.
Items recovered from them, according to the Commission, include different brands of mobile phones.
The suspects, EFCC noted, will be arraigned in court as soon as the investigations are concluded.
