The Benin Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, between March 27 to April 11, 2025 secured the conviction and sentence of nine internet fraudsters before Justice A.N. Erhabor of Edo State High Court, sitting in Benin City, Edo State.
The convicts are: Desmond Aghanenu, Okolie Bright, Emeka Matthew, Anikwushe Calin, Precious Onyeka Okonkwo, Ojie Victor Emeka, Safety Tamarakuro Austin, Promise Osas Lucky and Ebi Ferguson.
They were prosecuted on a separate one-count charge bordering on obtaining by false pretence, retention of proceeds of crime and possession of fraudulent documents.
The charge against Desmond Aghanenu reads: “That you Desmond Aghanenu (m) on or about the 14th of March, 2025 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 committed 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, I.M Elodi, Isa K. Agwai and Bala-Ribah to pray the court to convict and sentence them accordingly, while counsel to the defendants pleaded with the court to temper justice with mercy, stating that they have become remorseful for their actions.
Justice Erhabor convicted and sentenced Desmond Aghanenu, Okolie Bright, Emeka Matthew, Anikwushe Calin, Precious Onyeka Okonkwo, Ojie Victor Emeka, Safety Tamarakuro Austin, Promise Osas Lucky to two years imprisonment, each or pay N200, 000 (Two Hundred Thousand Naira) fine respectively, while Ebi Ferguson bagged three years imprisonment or pay a fine of N200, 000 (Two Hundred Thousand Naira).
In addition to their sentences, all the convicts forfeited their phones,
computers and money found in their respective bank accounts to the Federal Government of Nigeria and undertook in writing to be of good behaviour henceforth.
The convicts’ journey to the Correctional Centre began with their arrest in a sting operation by operatives of the Benin Zonal Directorate of the EFCC following intelligence that linked them to fraudulent internet activities. They were prosecuted and convicted.
