Justice M. Itsueli of Edo State High Court, Benin City has convicted and sentenced three internet fraudsters to jail for fraud.

They are Omorefe Osaze, Ikekhua Bassey Mately and Wonderful Okirhienyefa Oghenetega. They were arraigned on one count charge bordering on unlawful possession of fraudulent documents and personation by the Benin Zonal Command of the EFCC.

The charge against Oghenetega reads: “that you, Wonderful Okirhienyefa Oghenetega on or about the 15th day of August, 2022 at Benin City within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did have in your possession, in your iPhone 7 Plus mobile phone, documents containing a false pretense with different subjects which you knew to be false and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 6 and 8(b) or the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act 2006 and punishable under Section 1(3)of the same Act”.

The charge against Omorefe Osaze reads: “that you, Omorefe Osaze between 2021 to September 2022 in Benin City Edo State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did fraudulently personate the identity of one Liu Gong on WhatsApp account created by you to communicate with different persons and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section.484 of the Criminal Code Cap 48 Laws of Bendel State of Nigeria (as applicable in Edo State”.

Upon arraignment, the defendants pleaded guilty to the charge preferred against them by the EFCC.

In view of their pleas, the prosecution counsel, I.M. Elodi prayed the court to convict and sentence them accordingly. However, counsel to the defendants prayed the court to temper justice with mercy as the defendants have been remorseful for their actions.

Justice Itsueli thereafter convicted and sentenced Osaze to two years imprisonment with an option of Two Hundred Thousand Naira fine.

Bassey Mately was sentenced to five years imprisonment with an option of Three Hundred Thousand Naira fine while Oghenetega bagged three years imprisonment or a fine of Three Hundred Thousand Naira.

The judge ordered that the balance of money found in Zenith bank and UBA accounts belonging to Osaze, a Mercedes Benz C300 car and phones recovered during the course of investigation being proceeds of crime be forfeited to the Federal government of Nigeria. The defendant’s bank accounts in UBA and Zenith bank are also  to be closed.