Between April 11 and 17, Justices W.I. Aziegbemhin and A.N. Erhabor of the Edo State High Court sitting in Benin City convicted and sentenced twenty-three individuals for their involvement in internet-related fraud. The cases, prosecuted by the Benin Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), culminated in a series of judgments that saw the accused handed various jail terms or options of fines after pleading guilty to separate one-count charges.
The convicts—Uzorchukwu Peace Udoka, Erubasa Oghenetega, David Ogwunu, Jude Okolie, Lucky Ehizojie, Chineye Isioma Christian, Obadiunor Josoph Ikechukwu, Ugochukwu Adingwu, Ifeanyi Okechukwu, Patrick Chinedu Chukwujekwe, Ugboh Chibuzor, Monday Shedrack, Udochukwu Onuka, Uzodion Luke, Ehighola Emmanuel Akhere, Godstime Osunde Oskpolor, Promise Onyugboh, Onuka Patrick, Chinonso Peter Iwuchukwu, Ajayi Aisosa, Aiwansoba Prince, Goddey Jeremiah and Ojimah John Oseni—were charged with offences bordering on obtaining by false pretence, possession of fraudulent documents, and retention of proceeds of crime.
In one of the charges, Chinonso Peter Iwuchukwu was accused of being in possession of documents containing false pretences, an offence that contravenes Sections 6 and 8(b) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act 2006 and is punishable under Section 1(3) of the same legislation.
All the accused persons pleaded guilty when the charges were read to them. Following their pleas, the prosecuting counsels—F.A. Jirbo, I.M. Elodi and K.Y. Bello—urged the court to convict and sentence them accordingly.
Defence counsel, while not contesting the charges, pleaded for leniency, noting that the defendants had shown remorse and were willing to change.
Justice A.N. Erhabor sentenced sixteen of the convicts—Chinonso Peter Iwuchukwu, Jude Okolie, Obadiunor Josoph Ikechukwu, Ugochukwu Adingwu, Ifeanyi Okechukwu, Patrick Chinedu Chukwujekwe, Ugboh Chibuzor, Monday Shedrack, Udochukwu Onuka, Ehighola Emmanuel Akhere, Godstime Osunde Oskpolor, Promise Onyugboh, Onuka Patrick, Aiwansoba Prince, Goddey Jeremiah and Ojimah John Oseni—to two years’ imprisonment each, with an option of a two hundred thousand naira fine.
Chineye Isioma Christian and Uzodion Luke were sentenced to three years’ imprisonment each, also with an option of a two hundred thousand naira fine.
Justice W.I. Aziegbemhin, in a separate judgment, sentenced Uzorchukwu Peace Udoka, Erubasa Oghenetega and Ajayi Aisosa to two years’ imprisonment each or a fine of two hundred thousand naira. Meanwhile, David Ogwunu and Lucky Ehizojie received stiffer penalties of three years’ imprisonment each or the alternative of a five hundred thousand naira fine.
As part of the sentencing, all convicts forfeited their mobile phones, computers, and funds in their respective bank accounts to the Federal Government of Nigeria, being proceeds of crime. Furthermore, they submitted written undertakings to be of good behaviour going forward.
Their arrest followed a coordinated sting operation by EFCC operatives in Benin, launched on the basis of intelligence reports linking them to internet-related fraudulent activities.
