By Imam Moromoke
Six internet fraudsters: Akinnodi Oyindamola, Akinlade Oluwole Stephen, Adekunle Junior Adeyemi, Iyeke Ochuko Prince, Ojo Oluwagbenga Emmanuel and Prince Onogbake were on Monday, May 15, 2023, convicted and sentenced to prison by Justice Efe Ikponmwonba of Edo State High Court sitting in Benin City.
They were arraigned separately by the Benin Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on one count charge of possession of fraudulent documents.
Upon arraignment, the defendants pleaded guilty to their respective charges prompting the prosecution counsel, F.A.Jirbo to ask the court to convict and sentence the defendants accordingly. However, counsel to the defendants Pascal Ugbome and B.A. Ambrose pleaded with the court to temper justice with mercy as the defendants were first time offenders who have become remorseful for their actions.
Justice Ikponmwonba convicted and sentenced each of the defendants to three years imprisonment with an option of Two Hundred Thousand Naira fine.
Justice Ikponmwonba ordered that the balance in the GT bank account belonging to Oyindamola, three (3) Apple laptops, one Toyota Camry, one black Lexus 350, one Lexus RX 350; the sum of N260, 000.00 (Two Hundred and Sixty Thousand Naira) recovered from Prince Onogbake and phones being proceeds and instruments of crime be forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria through the EFCC.
The judge further ordered that the bank accounts used as instruments of crime be closed. The defendants are to also undertake in writing to be of good behaviour.
