Court jails 10 internet fraudsters

The Benin Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has secured the conviction and sentence of 10 internet fraudsters before Justice M. Itsueli of Edo State High Court, sitting in Benin City.

According to a statement issued by EFCC and posted on its X page on Friday, the convicts were Okoro Emmanuel, Billwise Dikoru, Enoma Osasumwen, Samson Festus, Godspower Afolorunikon, Omonle Damien, Sunday Uanseoje, Sylvester Udu, Ani Chucks and Amilegbe Saviour.

The convicts were prosecuted on separate one-count charges, bordering on impersonation, obtaining by false pretence, advance fee fraud, retention of proceeds of crime and possession of fraudulent documents.

The charge against Okoro Emmanuel read, “That you Okoro Emmanuel (m) on or about the 10th of September, 2025 within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did have in your possession, on your iPhone 11 with IMEI Number 356867116691538, documents which you knew or ought to have known contained a false pretence and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 6 and 8 of the Advance Fee Fraud and other Fraud Related Offences Act 2006 and punishable under Section 1(3) of the same Act.”

They all pleaded “guilty” to their charges, prompting the prosecution counsel, K. Y. Bello and Isa Agwai to ask the court to convict and sentence them accordingly.

The defence counsel, however, pleaded with the court to temper justice with mercy, stating that they have become remorseful for their actions.

Justice Itsueli convicted and sentenced all to two years imprisonment, each, or to pay a N200,000 fine, respectively.

All the convicts forfeited their mobile phones and laptop computers, being tools of their crime and money found in their respective bank accounts, being proceeds of their crimes, to the Federal Government.

The convicts were reportedly arrested by operatives of the Benin Zonal Directorate of the EFCC, following credible intelligence that exposed their fraudulent internet activities.