Crime
Edo High Court Jails 29 Internet Fraudsters, Orders Forfeiture of Assets
- Edo State High Court convicts and sentences 29 internet fraudsters to jail terms or fines, following EFCC’s crackdown.
- Judges order the forfeiture of recovered assets, including a Mercedes Benz, phones, and computers, to the Federal Government.
- EFCC reiterates commitment to fighting cybercrime, warning of rising threats linked to online fraudsters.
The Edo State High Court, sitting in Benin City, has convicted and sentenced 29 individuals involved in internet fraud to various jail terms at a correctional facility.
EKO HOT BLOG reports that according to a statement from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Thursday, Justices A.N. Erhabor and W.I. Aziegbemhin presided over the cases and delivered the verdicts against the defendants.
The individuals convicted include Edeyibo Rukewe Hope, Igbafe David, Emakhu Bonfrey, Genesis Ndujifor, Okolosie Godstime, Chukwu David, Ebuka Emmanuel, Akhere Akahomhen, Odiniru Emeka Vet, Obiora Mike Kelvin, Stephen Eghosa, Osagioduwa Samuel Aivihenyor, Lucky Ekhator, Ekechukwu Chima Stanley, Lucky Moses, David Odiniru, Christopher Alex, Orovirie Sunny, Abraham Ifeanyi, and Aisosa Vincent.
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Others sentenced include Agbede Shola Harrison, Endurance Ebalukpe, Igbiniken Osarvmwense, Okonoboh Senator Odiegie, Joseph Imhangbegbe, Orion Aigbona, Godstime Adebor, Ambrose Otsemeuno, and Mattew Obayuywana.
The EFCC arrested the convicts during a sting operation conducted by its Benin Zonal Directorate. According to the anti-graft agency, credible intelligence linked them to fraudulent internet activities. Each defendant was charged separately with one-count offenses, including obtaining by false pretence, advance fee fraud, retention of proceeds of crime, and possession of fraudulent documents.
One of the charges read:
“That you, Edeyibo Rukewe Hope (m), on or about the 27th of February, 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 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.”
When the charges were read in court, all defendants pleaded guilty. The prosecution team, led by counsels F.A. Jirbo, K.Y. Bello, Isa K. Agwai, Faisal Ibrahim, Al-Amin Ibrahim Abdul, Bala-Ribah, and Salihu Ahmed, urged the court to convict and sentence them accordingly. However, the defense counsel pleaded for leniency, arguing that the convicts had shown remorse.
Justice Erhabor sentenced 17 of the convicts—including Hope, David, Bonfrey, Emmanuel, Akahomhen, Sunny, Ifeanyi, Vincent, and others—to two years in prison each or an option of a ₦200,000 fine.
Justice Aziegbemhin sentenced Ndujifor and Godstime to two years’ imprisonment or a ₦200,000 fine. Additionally, Kelvin, Eghosa, Aivihenyor, Ekhator, Stanley, Moses, Osarvmwense, Vet, and Alex were sentenced to two years in prison or a ₦400,000 fine.
The court also ordered the forfeiture of a red Mercedes-Benz C300 (registration number BEN258CM) recovered from Odiniru Emeka Vet as proceeds of crime. Furthermore, all convicted individuals were directed to forfeit items such as mobile phones, computers, money, and other assets recovered during their arrest. They were also required to sign an undertaking to maintain good behavior in the future.
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The EFCC has intensified its efforts against cybercrime, warning that many fraudsters now carry firearms and engage in ritual killings. The agency recently mourned the loss of an officer, Assistant Superintendent of the EFCC (ASE II) Aminu Sahabi Harisu, who was killed on January 17, 2025, while tracking an internet fraud suspect, Joshua Chukwubueze Ikechukwu.
On March 7, 2025, the Edo State High Court had previously sentenced 21 individuals for similar offenses, reinforcing the EFCC’s ongoing battle against cyber fraud in Nigeria.
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