Justice Igho Braimoh of the Edo State High Court in Benin City has convicted and sentenced 17 individuals involved in internet fraud to various prison terms.
The convicted individuals include Oserei John Vianny, Osaro Moses, Desmond Okoduwa, Obi Isaac, Joshua Omoruyi, Iyabosa Omoruyi, Jeffery Omoruyi, Odion Alex Idada, Aisosa Aiyeki, and Prosper Aimiomwona. Others are Cherish Omoruyi, Kelly Omoruyi, Victor Osaze, Obobor Moses, Timothy Ogie, Osemuahu Godspower, and Bonny Stephen.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), through its Benin Zonal Directorate, prosecuted the defendants on separate charges of obtaining by false pretenses and possession of fraudulent documents.
One of the charges against Oserei John Vianny reads: “That you, Oserei John Vianny, on or about June 10, 2024, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, had in your possession documents which you knew or ought to have known contained false pretenses, thereby committing an offence contrary to Sections 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 brought against them. Following their pleas, the prosecution counsel, I.K. Agwai, Ibrahim Faisal, and Ahmed Salihu, urged the court to convict and sentence them. However, the defense counsel asked the court for leniency, arguing that the defendants had shown remorse for their actions.
Justice Braimoh subsequently sentenced Vianny, Idada, Cherish Omoruyi, Kelly Omoruyi, Aiyeki, Obobor Moses, and Osaro Moses to two years in prison or a fine of N200,000 each. Iyabosa Omoruyi, Joshua Omoruyi, Aimiomwona, Ogie, Godspower, Stephen, Jeffery Omoruyi, Osaze, and Isaac were sentenced to three years in prison or a fine of N200,000 each. Desmond Okoduwa received a three-year sentence or a fine of N500,000.
In addition to the prison terms, the court ordered the forfeiture of several luxury vehicles, including a Toyota Camry, Mercedes Benz 350, Rav4 Toyota, and Mercedes Benz C300, which were recovered from Desmond Okoduwa, Isaac, and Aiyeki as proceeds of their criminal activities. The convicts also forfeited their phones, laptops, and the funds in their bank accounts to the federal government. They were required to sign undertakings to exhibit good behavior moving forward.
Their journey to conviction began after their arrest by EFCC operatives, who acted on credible intelligence linking them to internet fraud.
