NIGERIA: Court Jails 23 Internet Fraudsters In Benin City

By Ameenat Hamzat, Lagos, Nigeria 

Twenty-three internet fraudsters have been convicted and sentenced to various jail terms by Justices W.I. Aziegbemhin and A.N. Erhabor of the Edo State High Court sitting in Benin City.

The convictions, which took place between April 11 and 17, followed their arrest and prosecution by the Benin Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

This was disclosed in a statement posted today, Saturday, April 19, on the official X (formerly Twitter) handle of the EFCC.

The convicted individuals include Uzorchukwu Peace Udoka, Erubasa Oghenetega, David Ogwunu, Jude Okolie, Lucky Ehizojie, Chineye Isioma Christian, Obadiunor Joseph Ikechukwu, Ugochukwu Adingwu, Ifeanyi Okechukwu, Patrick Chinedu Chukwujekwe, Ugboh Chibuzor, Monday Shedrack, Udochukwu Onuka, Uzodion Luke, and Ehighola Emmanuel Akhere. Others are Godstime Osunde Oskpolor, Promise Onyugboh, Onuka Patrick, Chinonso Peter Iwuchukwu, Ajayi Aisosa, Aiwansoba Prince, Goddey Jeremiah, and Ojimah John Oseni.

According to the EFCC, all 23 individuals were arraigned on separate one-count charges relating to obtaining by false pretence, possession of fraudulent documents, and retention of proceeds of crime. Upon their arraignment, they all pleaded guilty.

The prosecution counsel , F.A. Jirbo, I.M. Elodi, and K.Y. Bello , urged the court to convict and sentence them, while defense counsels pleaded for leniency, citing the defendants’ remorse.

Justice Erhabor sentenced most of the convicts to two years imprisonment or a fine of N200,000 each. Chineye Isioma Christian and Uzodion Luke received stiffer sentences of three years imprisonment or a fine of N200,000.

Justice Aziegbemhin also handed two-year jail terms or N200,000 fines to Uzorchukwu Peace Udoka, Erubasa Oghenetega, and Ajayi Aisosa. David Ogwunu and Lucky Ehizojie were sentenced to three years imprisonment each or a fine of N500,000.

One of the charges, against Chinonso Peter Iwuchukwu, read: “That you, Chinonso Peter Iwuchukwu, on or about the 12th of April, 2025, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did have in your possession documents which you knew or ought to have known contained false pretence, thereby committing an offence contrary to Section 6 and 8 (b) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act 2006 and punishable under Section 1(3) of the same Act.”

All the convicts forfeited items recovered from them, including phones, laptops, and funds in their bank accounts, to the Federal Government as proceeds of crime. They also signed written undertakings to be of good behaviour going forward.

The EFCC however noted: “The Commission remains committed to ridding society of economic and financial crimes and urges the youth to shun cybercrime and embrace legitimate ventures.”

The arrests were the result of a sting operation carried out by the Benin Zonal Directorate of the EFCC, following credible intelligence linking the suspects to fraudulent online activities.