Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court, Warri, Delta State on Thursday, October 13, 2022 convicted and sentenced two internet fraudsters, Ossien Godwin Isioma and Obiora Divine Chijioke, to prison for fraud.

The duo were arraigned on one count charge of unlawful possession of proceeds of crime by the Benin Zonal Command of the EFCC.

The charge against Isioma reads: "that you, Ossien Godwin Isioma sometime between 2021 and 2022 in Benin, Edo State within the. Jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did take possession of the aggregate sum of N1, 027,000.00 transferred into your bank account number 2110464598 domiciled in Zenith bank by one Omoghan Destiny which funds you knew form part of your unlawful acts to wit: Internet fraud and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 18(1)(a) of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (Establishment) Act and punishable under Section 18(2) of the same Act.”

Upon arraignment, the defendants pleaded guilty to the charge, prompting the prosecution counsel, I.M Elody to request the court to convict and sentence the defendants accordingly. However, counsel to the defendants, Pascal Ugbome and A.J. Onwunaje pleaded for leniency as the defendants had become remorseful for their action.

Justice Abang convicted and sentenced Isioma and Chijioke to one year imprisonment or a fine of One Million Naira each.

The court ordered that the phones recovered from the defendants during investigation and the sum of Two Hundred and Two Thousand, Seven Hundred and Nineteen Naira, Ninety-nine Kobo (N202,719.99) found in Chijioke’s bank account, being instruments and proceed of crime be forfeited to the federal government of Nigeria.

Media & Publicity

14 October, 2022.