Court Sends Five Internet Fraudsters To Jail In Benin City

Five internet fraudsters – Bright Obaro, Christopher Lawani Igbinosa, Osagie Hope Godstime, Divine Uche and Osagie Junior – were on Tuesday, April 4, 2023, convicted and sentenced to prison by Justices Efe Ikponmwonba and M Itsueli of Edo State High Court sitting in Benin City.

They were arraigned by the Benin Zonal Command of the Commission on separate one count charges bordering on fraudulent impersonation, retention of proceeds of crime, intent to defraud and possession of fraudulent documents.

Upon arraignment the defendants pleaded guilty to their respective charges, prompting the prosecution counsel, K.Y. Bello, I. K. Agwai, Al-amin A. Ibrahim and Ibrahim Falsal to ask the court to convict and sentence the defendants accordingly.

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However, counsel to the defendants pleaded with the court to temper justice with mercy as they were first time offenders who had become remorseful for their actions.

Justice Ikponmwonba convicted and sentenced Obaro, Godstime and Junior to three years imprisonment with an option of Two Hundred Thousand Naira fune, while Igbinosa bagged three years imprisonment or a fine of One Hundred Thousand Naira. Justice It Uche to two years imprisonment or a fine of Two Hundred Thousand Naira.

Justice Ikponwonba also ruled that the balance of N25,786.15 domiciled in Sterling Bank belonging to Osagie Junior and phones recovered from the defendants be forfeited to the Federal government of Nigeria.. All the defendants are to undertake in writing to be of good behaviour.