29 Internet Fraudsters bag jail term, assets forfeiture in Edo

A total of 29 individuals involved in internet fraud have been convicted and sentenced to various prison terms by Justices A.N. Erhabor and W.I. Aziegbemhin of the Edo State High Courts.

The verdicts were delivered in Benin City after the convicts were prosecuted by the Benin Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Among those sentenced were Edeyibo Hope, Igbafe David, Emakhu Bonfrey, Genesis Ndujifor, Okolosie Godstime, Chukwu David, Ebuka Emmanuel, Akhe Akahomhen, Odiniru Vet, Obiora Kelvin, and Stephen Eghosa, among others.

The convicted internet fraudsters, commonly referred to as Yahoo boys, faced charges related to obtaining by false pretence, advance fee fraud, retention of proceeds of crime, and possession of fraudulent documents. All pleaded guilty.

Justice Erhabor sentenced some of the convicts to two years in prison, with an option of a ₦200,000 fine. Similarly, Justice Aziegbemhin handed out comparable sentences, while some convicts were ordered to pay fines of ₦400,000.

Additionally, the court ordered the forfeiture of a red Mercedes-Benz C300, registered as BEN258CM, along with mobile phones, computers, and cash linked to the fraudulent activities.

The convictions followed an EFCC sting operation based on credible intelligence regarding cybercrime activities in the region.