Twenty-six-year-old Ohenhen Victor Ikponwosa, a graduate of Ambrose Ali University, Ekpoma, along with 10 other individuals, was convicted and sentenced to prison on charges of internet fraud. The judgment was delivered by Justice Efe Ikponmwonba of the Edo State High Court in Benin City.
The other individuals convicted are Iredia Junior Ehis, Awe Macdonald, Azanuwa Junior, Kelvin Akenuwa, Godspower Oghenekohwa, Collins Daniel, Junior Osarobo, Marvis Ogbodaga Osemudiamen, Jephthah Eromosele, and Christopher Christian Dickson.
The arrests of the convicts were made based on intelligence gathered by operatives of the Benin Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) regarding their fraudulent activities.
They were subsequently arraigned on separate one-count charges related to possession of alleged proceeds of crime, false representation, and unlawful possession of fraudulent documents.
During the arraignment, all the defendants pleaded guilty to their respective charges. As a result, the prosecution counsel, I.M. Elodi, Salihu Ahmed, and KY Bello, prayed the court to convict and sentence them accordingly.
The defense counsel, on the other hand, pleaded for leniency, highlighting that the defendants were first-time offenders who had reformed.
After considering the arguments, Justice Ikponmwonba handed down the following sentences: Osemudiamen, Ikponwosa, and Ehis were sentenced to three years imprisonment with an option of Two Hundred Thousand Naira fine.
Akenuwa, Macdonald, Dickson, and Oghenekohwa received two years imprisonment with an option of One Hundred Thousand Naira fine. Eromosele, Osarobo, and Daniel were sentenced to three years imprisonment with an option of One Hundred Thousand Naira fine. Junior was sentenced to two years imprisonment with an option of Two Hundred Thousand Naira fine.
Additionally, the judge ordered the forfeiture of a Lexus RX 330 car and phones that were recovered during the investigation, as they were identified as proceeds of crime, to the Federal Government of Nigeria.
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