Between April 11 and 17, 2025, the Edo State High Court in Benin City handed down jail sentences to 23 individuals involved in internet-related fraud. This was announced in a post shared on Saturday via the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission’s (EFCC) official X (formerly Twitter) handle.
“Justices W.I. Aziegbemhin and A.N. Erhabor of Edo State High Court sitting in Benin City between April 11 and 17 convicted and sentenced 23 internet fraudsters to various jail terms,” the statement partly read. The convicted suspects include 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, and Ehighola Emmanuel Akhere. Others sentenced were Godstime Osunde Oskpolor, Promise Onyugboh, Onuka Patrick, Chinonso Peter Iwuchukwu, Ajayi Aisosa, Aiwansoba Prince, Goddey Jeremiah, and Ojimah John Oseni.
The EFCC disclosed, “They were prosecuted on one count, separate charges bordering on obtaining by false pretence, retention of proceeds of crime and possession of fraudulent documents by the Benin Zonal Directorate of the Commission.”
One of the specific charges brought before the court read: “The charge against Chinonso Peter Iwuchukwu reads: ‘That you Chinonso Peter Iwuchukwu (m) on or about the 12th of April, 2025 within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did have in your possession, documents which you knew or ought to have known contained false pretence, thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 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.’”
According to the EFCC, all defendants admitted guilt when the charges were presented to them. “All the defendants pleaded ‘guilty’ to their charges when they were read to them, prompting the prosecution counsel, F.A. Jirbo, I.M. Elodi, K.Y. Bello, to pray the court to convict and sentence them accordingly while counsel to the defendants pleaded with the court to temper justice with mercy, stating that they have become remorseful for their actions,” the statement continued.
Justice A.N. Erhabor handed two-year jail terms to most of the convicts, including Chinonso Peter Iwuchukwu, Jude Okolie, Obadiunor Joseph Ikechukwu, and others, with the option of paying N200,000 fines. Chineye Isioma Christian and Uzodion Luke were each given three years behind bars or a fine of N200,000.
Justice W.I. Aziegbemhin sentenced Uzorchukwu Peace Udoka, Erubasa Oghenetega, and Ajayi Aisosa to two years in prison or a N200,000 fine each. David Ogwunu and Lucky Ehizojie received three-year sentences, each with the alternative of a N500,000 fine.
“In addition to their sentences, all the convicts forfeited their phones, computers and money found in their respective bank accounts to the Federal Government of Nigeria, being proceeds of crime. They also undertook in writing to be of good behaviour henceforth,” the statement added.
The EFCC explained that the suspects were apprehended during a sting operation by operatives of its Benin Zonal Directorate, based on credible intelligence linking them to internet fraud. “The convicts’ journey to the Correctional Centre began with their arrest in a sting operation by operatives of the Benin Zonal Directorate of the EFCC following intelligence that linked them to fraudulent internet activities,” the commission concluded.
Source : https://punchng.com/
