Justices A.N. Erhabor and W.I. Aziegbemhin of the Edo State High Courts in Benin City have convicted and sentenced 34 internet fraudsters to various jail terms between May 29 and June 4, 2025, following their arraignment on charges bordering on cybercrime.
The convicted individuals are: Ogbeide Osayande Bright, George Micheal, Asazobro Kindness, Asamonye Davis Chibudion, Efosa Imasuen, Fortune Innocent, Owah Eloho, Osifo Bright, Oselunosen Ojeh Oziegbe, Igbinogie Esemude Eloghosa, Abijade Jeffery, Godwin Osayowanbor, Okon Bassey Benjamin, Owie Success Etinosa, Emmanuel Chinedu Ariwa, Ogbonna Precious, Agboniroho Promise, Ogbonna Michael, Sunday Onyekachi, Igbinogie Esenuede Amos, Favour Abdul, Efe Louis Ediyeri, Benson Odion Kelly, Benson Ovbokhan Kelly, Oliver Collins Chijoke, Odia Aisosa, Arinze Michael, Brainson Joseph Bassey, Paul Eghosa Oreavbiere, Marvelous Imasuen, Adams Maxwell Eloghosa, Omorodion Ayomide, Owenaze Efe Wealth, and Nathaniel Ihaza.
They were prosecuted by the Benin Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on separate one-count charges ranging from obtaining by false pretence, retention of proceeds of crime, to possession of fraudulent documents.
The charge against Ogbeide Osayande Bright read:
“That you Ogbeide Osayande Bright (m) on or about the 15th of May, 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 committed 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 defendants pleaded guilty to the charges. Prosecuting counsels F.A Jirbo, I.M Elodi, I.K Agwai, K.Y Bello, Ibrahim Al-Amin, M.S Dahiru, Salihu Ahmed, Bala Rabah, and Faisal Ibrahim, urged the court to convict and sentence the defendants accordingly. Defence counsel, however, pleaded with the court to temper justice with mercy, noting that the convicts had shown remorse.
Justice Erhabor sentenced Ogbeide Osayande Bright, George Micheal, Asazobro Kindness, Igbinogie Esemude Eloghosa, Abijade Jeffery, Godwin Osayowanbor, Okon Bassey Benjamin, Owie Success Etinosa, Emmanuel Chinedu Ariwa, Ogbonna Precious, Agboniroho Promise, Benson Ovbokhan Kelly, Ogbonna Michael, Sunday Onyekachi, Igbinogie Esenuede Amos, Efe Louis Ediyeri, Benson Odion Kelly, Oliver Collins, Arinze Michael, Brainson Joseph Bassey, Paul Eghosa Oreavbiere, Marvelous Imasuen, Adams Maxwell Eloghosa, Omorodion Ayomide, Owenaze Efe Wealth and Nathaniel Ihaza to two years imprisonment each, with an option of N200,000 fine.
Justice Aziegbemhin handed the same sentence to Asamonye Davis Chibudion, Efosa Imasuen, Fortune Innocent, Owah Eloho, Osifo Bright, Oselunosen Ojeh Oziegbe, Favour Abdul, and Odia Aisosa—two years imprisonment or a fine of N200,000 each.
Additionally, all convicted persons forfeited their mobile phones, laptops, and funds in their bank accounts to the Federal Government of Nigeria. They also signed written undertakings to be of good behaviour going forward.
Their journey to jail began after operatives of the EFCC’s Benin Zonal Office apprehended them in sting operations based on intelligence linking them to various internet scams. Upon completion of investigations, they were arraigned, convicted, and sentenced.
