Justice Efe Ikponmwonba of the Edo State High Court sitting in Benin City on Thursday April 14, 2022, convicted and sentenced four internet fraudsters to prison for fraud.

The convicts are Chigbolu Stephen Kanayo (aka Brad Pitt) Udoh Godspower (aka Wang Wei); Orome Collins (aka Wang Wei) and Clifford Otsu (aka Wang David).

They were arraigned by the Benin Zonal Command of the EFCC for offences bordering on intent to defraud and impersonation.
The defendants had sometime in October 2021 and February 2022 with intent to defraud impersonated foreign nationals on their respective social media platforms in the attempt to defraud them.

The charge against Kanayo reads: "that you Chigbolu Stephen Kanayo on the 28th February, 2022 in Benin City ,Edo State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did with intent to defraud represent yourself to be Brad Pitt Williams , a celebrity residing in California, USA ,on Instagram platform and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 484 and punishable under Section 484 of the Criminal Code Law Cap 48, Laws of Bendel State of Nigeria ( as applicable in Edo state ) 1976".

The charge against Collins reads: "that you, Orome Collins on the 23rd day of February 2022 in Benin City within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court knowingly had in your possession documents containing false pretense to wit: fraudulent/scammed pictures found in your Email account: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 484 of the Criminal Code Law Cap 48, Laws of Bendel State of Nigeria (as applicable in Edo State) 1976"

Upon arraignment , the defendants pleaded guilty to their respective charges, prompting the prosecution counsel, A.A. Ozigbu, to ask the court to convict and sentence them accordingly.
However, Pascal Ugonne , the defence counsel prayed the court to temper justice with mercy and to honour the plea bargain agreement between the parties.

Justice Ikponmwonba convicted and sentenced Kanayo and Udoh to two years imprisonment with an option of Three Hundred Thousand Naira fine.
Otsu bagged three years imprisonment with an option of Four Hundred Thousand Naira fine, while Collins bagged two years imprisonment with an option of One Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira fine

Justice Ikponmwonba ordered that they forfeit their phones to the Federal Government of Nigeria and to undertake in writing to be of good behaviour.

Media & Publicity

18 April, 2022