The Benin Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC on Thursday November 3, 2022 secured the conviction of 10 internet fraudsters before Justice F.A. Olubanjo of the Federal High Court, Asaba, Delta State and Justice Efe Ikponmwonba of Edo State High Court, Benin City.

They are Odogun Richard Akpesiri, Prince Eric Nnamdi, Bobby Chukwudi Okonkwo, Akorah Chinedu Friday, Promise Bassy and Ernest Owen Igbenidion.

Others are: Happiness Ayo Usomata, Tochukwu Chinazum Onyido, Emmanuel Ochuko and Anyasi Ifeanyi.

They were arraigned on separate charges for offences bordering on impersonation, unlawful possession of fraudulent documents and acquiring properties with proceeds of criminal conduct. Nine of the defendants were prosecuted before Justice Olubanjo while one was before Justice Ikponmwonba

The charge against Okonkwo reads: “that you, Bobby Chukwudi Okonkwo sometime between 2019 and 2020 in Asaba. Delta State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did acquire a Toyota Camry car with registration number BWR 239 BL and a Venza Saloon car knowing same were acquired from funds derived from unlawful.act.to wit: cybercrime and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 18(1) of the Economic and Financial. Crimes Commission (Establishment) Act 2004 and punishable under section 18(2) of the same Act”.

Upon their arraignment, all the defendants pleaded guilty to their respective charges, prompting the prosecution counsel, F.A. Jirbo, F.O Dibang and I.K Agwai to pray the courts to convict and sentence them accordingly.

Justice Olubanjo convicted and sentenced Friday, Nnamdi, Usomata and Ifeanyi to five years imprisonment with an option of Three Hundred Thousand Naira fine each.

The trio of Onyido, Bassy and Ochuko bagged five years imprisonment or a fine of Two Hundred Thousand Naira each.

Akpesiri was sentenced to three years imprisonment with an option of One Million Naira as fine while Okonkwo bagged two years imprisonment with an option of Three Hundred Thousand Naira fine.

In the same vein, Justice Ikponmwonba convicted and sentenced Earnest Owen Igbenidion to three years imprisonment with an option of Two Hundred Thousand Naira fine.

The judges ordered the forfeiture of a Toyota Camry car, a Venza saloon Car, the aggregate sum of N1, 238,032.22 recovered from the defendants being proceeds of crime to the Federal government of Nigeria , while the Bank accounts of the defendants are to be permanently closed.

Media & Publicity

4 November, 2022