A high court presided over by Justice Efe Ikponmwonba in Benin City, Edo State, found two brothers, Ochuko Godfrey and Ochuko Prosper, guilty and sentenced them to different prison terms on Tuesday along with fourteen other defendants.
The other offenders are Prosper Enahoro, Ogheneoma Udolu, Raymond Edise, Akai Philip Onochie, Osayi Kennedy Obaseki, Joshua Ngerem, Oghogho Marvellous Ekpuke, Stanley David, Jackson Shebenor, Felix Orevaoghene Emmanuel, Gideon Onaiwu, Johnson Godspower Oghenevwegba, Godspower Emmanuel Jerimaiah, and Felix Wada, according to a post made on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission’s X account on Thursday.
They claim that the EFCC’s Benin Zonal Command had the prisoners charged separately on a single accusation of impersonation and possession of false documents.
“They were taken into custody by Commission agents on the basis of useful information regarding their purported involvement in online fraud. Following an inquiry, it was found that the prisoners had participated in various types of online fraud. To mislead gullible people, Ochuko Godfrey, for example, assumed the identities of Antonio Matthew and Richard Williams.
According to the charge against Joshua Ngerem, he committed an offence against Sections 6 and 8 of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act. 2006 and was subject to punishment under Section 1(3) of the same Act on or about September 8, 2023, while in the jurisdiction of this honourable court, by having documents in his possession that he knew or should have known contained a false pretence.
They entered guilty pleas to their individual charges during their arraignment, which led to their conviction and the corresponding sentence.
As proceeds of crime, the judge ordered the Federal government of Nigeria to confiscate the convicts’ mobile phones, one HP laptop, and the remaining balance in their bank accounts. In addition, the court mandated the closure of the bank accounts.
“In a related incident, Anah Trust Avwerosuo was found guilty and given a two-year prison sentence or a N200,000 fine by Justice S. M. Shuaibu of the Federal High Court located in Benin City on Tuesday for his involvement in internet fraud. To deceive his victims, Avwerosuo had assumed the identity of an American named Henri-Alva-Rezi, the statement continued.
