Court jails graduate, 10 others over Internet fraud in Edo

Ohenhen Victor Ikponwosa, age 26, a graduate of Ambrose Ali University in Ekpoma, and 10 other people were found guilty of online fraud on Tuesday and given prison sentences by Justice Efe Ikponmwonba of the Edo State High Court in Benin City.

Other prisoners include Christopher Christian Dickson, Iredia Junior Ehis, Awe Macdonald, Azanuwa Junior, Kelvin Akenuwa, Godspower Oghenekohwa, Collins Daniel, Junior Osarobo, Marvis Ogbodaga Osemudiamen, and Junior Osarobo.

In a statement released on Wednesday, the EFCC said that the individuals were detained after Benin Zonal Command agents received information about their criminal activity.

Subsequently, they were arraigned on separate one-count charges each bordering on possession of alleged proceeds of crime,  false representation and unlawful possession of fraudulent documents, contrary to Sections 17(a) of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (Establishment) Act, 2004 and punishable under Section 17(b) of the same Act.

Following their arraignment, the defendants entered guilty pleas to each of their accusations, which prompted the prosecution's attorneys, I.M. Elodi, Salihu Ahmed, and KY Bello, to ask the court to find them guilty and punish them appropriately.

However, as the prisoners were first-time offenders who had changed for the better, their attorneys argued with the court to balance justice with mercy.

After that, Justice Ikponmwonba found Osemudiamen, Ikponwosa, and Ehis guilty and sentenced them to three years in prison with the option of a N200,000 fine.

Eromosele, Oserobo, and Daniel were sentenced to three years in prison with an option of N100,000. The other members of the quartet, Akenuwa, Macdonald, Dickson, and Oghenekohwa, received two years in prison with an option of N100,000.

Junior received a two-year prison term with a N200,000 fine as an alternative from the judge.

The judge also mandated the forfeiture to the Federal Government of Nigeria of a Lexus RX 330 automobile and mobile phones discovered throughout the course of the investigation.

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