In a major crackdown to internet fraud ,13 individuals have been convicted and sentenced to 30 years imprisonment by an Edo State High Court in Benin City, demonstrating the state’s commitment to combating cybercrime.
In a statement released on Sunday, the Economic and Financial Crime Commission confirmed that several judgments were delivered across different proceedings from November 11 to 14, 2024.
It was also gathered that the convicts were apprehended and prosecuted for various cybercrime offenses, which included;falsely obtained goods or money, illegally retaining criminal proceeds, possession of fake documents, and other related activities.
Meanwhile the commission disclosed the name of the convicts as Evbayakha Daniel, Goodness Esiuke, Joshua Edobor, Omorodion Bright, Afisi Nurudeen, Oviabor Aisosa Wellington, and Evbayekha Desmond.
Others are Nosakhare Evbuomwan, Osemwengie Miracle, Osawe Kluvert, Wisdom Adolor, Onyebuchi Goodness, and Promise Omoru.
The statement also noted that, “They were prosecuted on one-count separate charges bordering on obtaining by false pretence, retention of proceeds of crime, and possession of fraudulent documents by the Benin Zonal Directorate of the Commission”.
The charge against Evbayakha Daniel reads: That you, Daniel (m), on or about October 30, 2024, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did have in your possession documents which you knew or ought to have known contained false pretence, thereby committing an offence contrary to Section 6 and 8 (b) of the Advance Fee Fraud and other Fraud Related Offences Act 2006 and punishable under Section 1(3) of the same Act.
“All the defendants pleaded guilty to their charges when they were read to them, prompting the prosecution counsel, F.A Jirbo, K.Y. Bello, Isa K. Agwai, and Salihu Ahmed to pray the court to convict and sentence them accordingly. However, counsel to the defendants pleaded with the court to temper justice with mercy, stating that they have become remorseful for their actions.”
The statement stressed that , “On Wednesday, November 13, Justice Aziegbemhin convicted and sentenced Oviabor Aisosa Wellington and Evbayekha Desmond to three years imprisonment or a fine of N200,000″.
“On Thursday, November 14, the quartet of Nosakhare Evbuomwan, Osemwengie Miracle, Osawe Kluvert, and Promise Omoru were convicted and sentenced by Justice Aziegbemhin to two years imprisonment or a fine of N200,000 while the duo of Wisdom Adolor and Onyebuchi Goodness bagged three years imprisonment or a fine of N200,000.” it added.
As outlined in the statement, the court mandated the surrender of all exhibits retrieved from the convicts which includes, “phones, laptops, and balances in their respective bank accounts to the Federal Government of Nigeria as proceeds of crime and to undertake in writing to be of good behaviour henceforth.”
Eniola Jolaoso