At least ten online scammers have been found guilty and given sentences of two years in prison or a fine of N200,000 each.
According to reports, the Edo High Court in Benin City’s Justice Mary Itsueli sentenced the prisoners to their jail terms.
The Benin office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission charged them with a separate one-count charge that included possession of counterfeit documents, impersonation, obtaining by false pretense, advance fee fraud, and retention of proceeds of crime.
Godspower Afolorunikon, Omonle Damien, Sunday Uanseoje, Sylvester Udu, Ani Chucks, Amilegbe Saviour, Okoro Emmanuel, Billwise Dikoru, Enoma Osasumwen, and Samson Festus are the ten prisoners.
According to the anti-graft agency’s X-page, which was originally Twitter, the prosecutors asked the court to convict the defendants after they entered guilty pleas to the allegations.
K. Y. Bello and Isa Agwai, the prosecution’s attorneys, had previously informed the court that the offenses violated Sections 6 and 8 of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act 2006 and that they were punishable under Section 1(3) of the same Act.
However, pointing out that the accused had expressed regret for their acts, the defense attorney begged the court to balance justice with mercy.
As instruments of their crime, the inmates’ laptop computers and cell phones were seized by the court in its ruling.
Additionally, the court mandated that they turn over to the federal government the funds that were discovered in their individual bank accounts as a result of their criminal activity.
