Justice M. Itsueli of Edo State High Court, sitting in Benin City, has convicted and jailed six internet fraudsters.
The convicts include Idemudia Destiny, Osifo Destiny, Nomanidobo Favour, Dauda Ahmed, David Samuel and Wisdom John.
They were prosecuted by the Benin Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on separate one-count charge bordering on impersonation, obtaining by false pretence, retention of proceeds of crime and possession of fraudulent documents.
The charge against Idemudia Destiny read: “That you Idemudia Destiny (m) on or about the 1st of August, 2025, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did have in your possession, on your iPhone 16 Plus, with IMEI Number 355648184280359, documents which you knew or ought to have known contain 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.”
The accused persons pleaded guilty, following which the prosecution counsel, K. Y. Bello prayed the court to convict and sentence them accordingly, while the defence counsel pleaded with the court to temper justice with mercy, stating that they had become remorseful for their actions.
Justice Itsueli convicted and sentenced all of them to two years imprisonment or payment of N200,000 as fine.
All the convicts also had their phones, laptop computers and money in their bank accounts forfeited to the federal government, being the tools and proceeds of their crimes.
They also put it in writing that they would henceforth be of good behaviour.
It will be recalled that the convicts were arrested and prosecuted by operatives of the Benin Zonal Directorate of the EFCC, following credible intelligence that exposed their fraudulent internet activities.
