From April 11th through the 17th, 2025, the Edo State High Court met in Benin City to hand out sentences of varied lengths to twenty-three cyber fraudsters. On Saturday, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission’s official X handle revealed this.
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“Azegbemhin and Erhabor, two justices of the Edo State High Court, met in Benin City from April 11th to the 17th and found 23 internet fraudsters guilty and sentenced them to different prison terms,” the statement partially said.
Here is the list of those found guilty:
Uzorchukwu Peace Udoka, Erubasa Oghenetega, David Ogwunu, Jude Okolie, Lucky Ehizojie, Chineye Isioma Christian, Obadiunor Josoph Ikechukwu, Ugochukwu Adingwu, Ifeanyi Okechukwu, Patrick Chinedu Chukwujekwe, Ugboh Chibuzor, Monday Shedrack, Udochukwu Onuka, Uzodion Luke, and Ehighola Emmanuel Akhere.
Ajayi Aisosa, Goddey Jeremiah, Onuka Patrick, Promise Onyugboh, Ojimah John Oseni, Aiwansoba Prince, Godstime Osunde Oskpolor, and Chinonso Peter Iwuchukwu are among the others.
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They were charged with one count each of gaining by false pretence, possessing counterfeit documents, and retaining proceeds of crime, according to the statement. The prosecution was led by the Benin Zonal Directorate of the Commission.
“According to one of the accusations leveled against the defendants, Chinonso Peter Iwuchukwu, on or around April 12, 2025, within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, did possess documents that you knew or ought to have known contained false pretence.
As a result, you committed an offense contrary to Section 6 and 8 (b) of the Advance Fee Fraud and other Fraud Related Offences Act 2006, which is punishable under Section 1(3) of the same Act. ”
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Upon hearing the allegations, all twenty-three defendants entered guilty pleas. “All the defendants pleaded ‘guilty’ to their charges when they were read to them,” the statement continued.
“As a result, the prosecution counsel, F.A. Jirbo, I.M. Elodi, K.Y. Bello, prayed to the court to convict and sentence them accordingly.” In response, the defendants’ attorneys urged the court to balance justice with mercy, saying their clients have grown remorseful for their actions.
The following individuals were found guilty by Justice A.N. Erhabor: Chinonso Peter Iwuchukwu, Jude Okolie, Obadiunor Joseph Ikechukwu, Ugochukwu Adingwu, Ifeanyi Okechukwu, Patrick Chinedu Chukwujekwe, Ugboh Chibuzor, Monday Shedrack, Udochukwu Onuka, Ehighola Emmanuel Akhere, Godstime Osunde Oskpolor, Promise Onyugboh, Onuka Patrick, Aiwansoba Prince, Goddey Jeremiah, and Ojimah John Oseni to two years in prison each, with a fine of N200,000 optional. Yusef Isioma Both Christian and Uzodion Luke were fined N200,000 or sentenced to three years in prison.
The three defendants—Uzorchukwu Peace Udoka, Erubasa Oghenetega, and Ajayi Aisosa—were found guilty by Justice W.I. Aziegbemhin and given prison terms of two years and fines of N200,000 apiece. The harsher punishments meted out to David Ogwunu and Lucky Ehizojie were three years in prison or a fine of N500,000 each.
The Federal Government of Nigeria received the phones, computers, and money from each inmate’s bank accounts as part of their punishments because they were considered proceeds of crime. The statement went on to say that they had also promised in writing to behave themselves going forward.
After receiving actionable intelligence connecting the inmates to online fraudulent operations, operatives of the EFCC’s Benin Zonal Directorate conducted a sting operation and detained the inmates.
The panel found that the inmates’ transfer to the Correctional Centre started with their apprehension in a sting operation by EFCC agents from the Benin Zonal Directorate, who had intelligence connecting them to fraudulent online operations.