Benin City, Edo State – Eleven Internet fraudsters were convicted and sentenced to prison today by Justice W.I. Aziegbemhin of the Edo State High Court. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Benin Zonal Directorate, prosecuted the individuals on charges including obtaining by false pretense and possession of fraudulent documents.
The convicts are: Izomor Samuel Efe, Nosakhare Bright, Emovon Destiny, and seven others. Each faced a separate one-count charge. The charge against Efe stated he possessed documents containing false pretenses, violating the Advance Fee Fraud and other Fraud Related Offences Act 2006.
All eleven defendants pleaded guilty. The prosecution counsel requested the court to convict and sentence them accordingly.
Justice Aziegbemhin sentenced Efe and Bright to two years in prison or a fine of ₦200,000 each. Destiny and Arogbo received the same prison term with a ₦400,000 fine option. The remaining seven Internet fraudsters received three years imprisonment or a ₦200,000 fine each.
The court also ordered the forfeiture of the convicts’ mobile phones, laptops, and funds in their bank accounts to the Federal Government. The convicts further pledged to refrain from future criminal activities. The EFCC continues its efforts to combat internet fraudsters across Nigeria.
