Court Sends Six Internet Fraudsters To Jail In Benin

 

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on October 12 and 13, 2022 secured the conviction of six internet fraudsters before Justices Efe Ikponwonba and M. Itsueli of the Edo State High Court sitting in Benin City, Edo State

The defendants are Edeorodion Terry, Elozie Miracle, Olarewaju Adeberun, Ikechukwu Orji Michael, Gabriel Igelige and Lucky Ifeanyi Egwuatu.

They were arraigned by the Benin Zonal Command of the Commission on a separate one count charge of impersonation, obtaining by false pretence and retention of proceeds of crime.

The charge against Egwuat reads: “that you, Lucky Ifeanyi Egwuat sometime between 25th May, 2000 to 25th May 2022 in Benin City, Edo State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did retain the aggregate sum of N223,635,376.82 (Two Hundred and Twenty Three million, Six Hundred and Thirty Five Thousand, Three Hundred and Seventy Six Naira Thirty – Five Kobo) in your Guaranty Trust Bank account 0605353171 knowing that same represent proceeds of your criminal conduct to wit; Cybercrime and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 17(C) of the Economic and Financial. Crimes Commission (Establishment) Act 2004 and punishable under section 17(b) of same Act”.

The charge against Miracle reads: “that you, Elozie Miracle on or about the 25th day of August,2022 in Benin City, within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court with intent to defraud falsely represent yourself to be one Sunil Naga- KK (an Indian man) and thereby committed an offence contrary and punishable under Section 484 of the Criminal Code, Cap 48 Laws of Bendel State of Nigeria (as applicable in Edo State) 1976.

The defendants pleaded guilty prompting the prosecution counsel, Francis Jirbo, K.U Udus and Ibrahim Mohammed to ask the court to convict and sentence them accordingly.

The duo of Egwuat and Miracle bagged three years imprisonment with an option of Two Hundred Thousand Naira as fine while Igelige and Terry were sentenced to two years imprisonment or a fine of Two Hundred Thousand Naira each.

The duo of Olarewaju and Michael bagged one year imprisonment with an option of One Hundred Thousand Naira each.

The court ordered that a Toyota Camry SE (2007 Model) belonging to Olarewaju be forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria through the EFCC. The court also ordered that the bank accounts of Egwuat and Michael, being instruments of crime, be closed.