Court jails internet fraudsters in Edo

By Sola Omoniyi, Lagos

An impersonator and ten other fraudsters have been jailed by a court in Edo State.

The criminals were sentenced by Justice Efe Ikponmwonba of Edo State High Court Benin City, on Tuesday.

The ten other convicts are Ariomoghwa Lucky, Ogbebor Pricewill, Irikefe Prosper, Odiri Ejiro, Eyengho Richard, Apoi Ufouma, Enabor Peter Odianosen, Sylvester Osatofoh Ebhoaiye, Edafe Promise and Christian Skinn.

While Odianosen was jailed on Wednesday, all others were jailed on Tuesday.

They were arraigned separately on a one-count charge of personation and unlawful possession of fraudulent documents by the Benin Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Meanwhile, upon arraignment, the defendants pleaded guilty to their respective charges, prompting prosecution counsels to pray the court to convict and sentence them accordingly.

However, counsel to the defendants prayed the court to temper justice with mercy “as the defendants have become remorseful for their actions.”

Justice Ikponmwonba convicted and sentenced Agbi to one year imprisonment or a fine of N100,000.

Ebhoaiye, Skinn, Lucky, Richard, and Ufuoma were sentenced to three years imprisonment with an option of a N300,000 fine.

The duo of Princewill and Ejiro received three years imprisonment or a fine of N500,000 each, while Promise and Prosper bagged three years imprisonment or a fine of N200,000 each.

Odianosen also received three years imprisonment or an option of a fine of N500,000.

The judge, however, ordered the forfeiture of two Toyota Venza, one Mercedes Benz GLK, one Lexus NX200, and one Honda Accord 2013 model, mobile phones and balances in the convicts’ bank accounts, being proceeds of crime, be forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria.