The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC has convicted and sentenced 15 internet fraudsters to various jail terms in Benin City.
Justice M. Itsueli of Edo State High Court sitting in Benin City on Monday, August 11, 2025 handed down the jail term on the convicts, according to a statement by the EFCC.
The anti graft Commission identified the convicts as Osasere Uyi, Osayande Godstime Edosa, Ewaen Agbonma, Godstime Ehighagwan, Peter Miracle and Ehondor Lucky Etinosa.
Also included are Ezomo Osamudiamen Desmond, Itobore Divine, Iyase Aisosa, Dominion Idehen, Ejiroghene Theophilus, Destiny Nosakhare, Efosa Imuetintan, Ahmed Aliyui and Samuel Osakpamwan.
EFCC said they were prosecuted on one-count separate charges bordering on obtaining by false pretence, retention of proceeds of crime and possession of fraudulent documents by the Benin Zonal Directorate of the Commission.
The charge against Godstime Ehighagwan reads: “That you Godstime Ehighagwan (m) on or about the 31st of July, 2025 within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did have in your possession, on your iPhone 15 pro Max with IMEI Number 358759859798828, documents which you knew or ought to have known contain a false pretence and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 6 and 8 of the Advance Fee Fraud and other Fraud Related Offences Act 2006 and punishable under Section 1(3) of the same Act”.
The statement said all the defendants pleaded guilty to their charges when they were read to them, prompting the Prosecution Counsel, I.K Agwai, K. Y. Bello, A.S.Bala-Ribah and M.S.Dahiru to pray the court to convict and sentence them accordingly.
Counsel to the defendants however pleaded with the court to temper justice with mercy, stating that they have become remorseful for their actions.
In his judgement, Justice Itsueli convicted and sentenced Osasere Uyi, Osayande Godstime Edosa, Ewaen Agbonma, Godstime Ehighagwan, Peter Miracle, Ehondor Lucky Etinosa, Ezomo Osamudiamen Desmond, Itobore Divine, Iyase Aisosa, Dominion Idehen, Ejiroghene Theophilus, Destiny Nosakhare, Efosa Imuetintan, Ahmed Aliyui and Samuel Osakpamwan to two years imprisonment or a fine of N200, 000 (Two hundred Thousand Naira).
In addition to the punishments, the convicts forfeited their phones, laptops, and balances in their respective bank accounts to the Federal Government of Nigeria as proceeds of crime and undertook in writing to be of good behaviour henceforth.
EFCC also recalled that convicts’ journey to the Correctional Centre began following their arrest by operatives of the Benin Zonal Directorate of the EFCC through a sting operation owing to their involvement in fraudulent internet activities. They were subsequently charged to court and jailed.
