Yahoo: EFCC Arrests 47 Internet Fraud Suspects in Edo

• 47 suspected internet fraudsters arrested in Ekpoma, Edo State, with exotic cars, laptops, and phones seized.
• Ezekiel Thankgod must appear for arraignment on March 6, 2025, on money laundering charges.
• Thankgod’s absence cited as an accident; prosecution calls it disrespectful to the court.

Operatives of the Benin Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Saturday, February 15, 2025, arrested 47 suspected internet fraudsters at different locations in Ekpoma, Edo State.

EKO HOT BLOG reports that the suspects were apprehended based on credible intelligence linking them to fraudulent internet activities.

Items recovered from them include 14 exotic cars, laptops, and phones.

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They have made useful statements and will be charged in court as soon as investigations are concluded.

Meanwhile, Justice A.O. Owoeye of the Federal High Court, sitting in Ikoyi, on Monday, February 17, 2025, held that Mr. Ezekiel Thankgod must appear in court to take his plea and adjourned until March 6, 2025, for his arraignment.

Mr. Thankgod, the ex-manager of gospel artiste Mercy Chinwo, has consistently evaded arraignment by the Lagos Zonal Directorate of the EFCC, prompting a warrant for his arrest issued by the court on January 16, 2025.

Thankgod is to be arraigned on a three-count charge, including money laundering and dishonest conversion of $340,000.

One of the charges reads: “That EZEKIEL ONYEDIKACHUKWU THANKGOD and EEZEE GLOBAL CONCEPTS LIMITED sometime in 2023, directly retained the sum of $260,494 (Two Hundred and Sixty Thousand Four Hundred and Ninety-Four USD) in EEZEE GLOBAL MINISTRY Zenith Bank Plc account number, which sum you reasonably ought to have known forms part of the proceeds of an unlawful activity, the dishonest conversion of the said sum, property of Mercy Chinwo and Judith Kanayo.”

The offence is contrary to Section 18(2)(d) and punishable under Section 18(3) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

The bench warrant of January 16, 2025, for his arrest followed an application by the prosecuting counsel, Bilikisu Buhari, who informed the court that the prosecution had been unable to serve the charges on him as he had been unreachable.

On January 24, 2025, defence counsel, Dr. Monday Ubani, SAN, accepted service on behalf of the defendant, but raised a preliminary objection challenging the charges.

Justice Owoeye subsequently adjourned the case until Monday, February 17, 2025, for the defendant’s arraignment, but he remained absent, represented by his counsel.

EFCC Officer Dies Lagos

The defence counsel cited the preliminary objection before the court, challenging the trial, and sought to move an objection, which the court rejected on the grounds that the defence could not be heard until the defendant appeared in court.

In response to Justice Owoeye’s inquiry on the whereabouts of the defendant, the defence counsel stated that he had received a call from Thankgod, claiming he had been involved in a terrible accident earlier that morning but promised to be available in court on the next adjourned date.

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The prosecution, led by Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, described the defence’s actions as “strange” and urged the court not to hear the application. Citing provisions of Sections 396(2) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act and judicial precedents, Oyedepo argued that the defendant’s repeated absence was an outright disrespect for the court.

He further revealed that after the last adjournment, the defendant had been seen granting media interviews within the court’s premises and argued that if the defendant were genuinely indisposed, he should have submitted an affidavit to that effect.

After hearing the arguments, Justice Owoeye declined the defence’s request, reiterating that the bench warrant issued against the defendant remained in force. He also emphasized that the court had not assumed jurisdiction in the case, as the defendant’s plea had not been taken.

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