At least 34 persons have been convicted and sentenced to various prison terms in Benin City, Edo State, over internet-related offences following separate rulings delivered between 29 May and 4 June 2025 by Justices A.N. Erhabor and W.I. Aziegbemhin of the Edo State High Court.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), in a statement released on Friday, disclosed that the convicts were prosecuted by its Benin Zonal Directorate for offences ranging from obtaining by false pretence to unlawful possession of fraudulent documents and retention of proceeds of crime.
Among those sentenced were Ogbeide Bright, George Micheal, Asazobro Kindness, Asamonye Chibudion, Efosa Imasuen, Fortune Innocent, Owah Eloho, and Osifo Bright. Others included Oselunosen Oziegbe, Igbinogie Eloghosa, Abijade Jeffery, Godwin Osayowanbor, Okon Benjamin, and Owie Etinosa.
Also convicted were Emmanuel Ariwa, Ogbonna Precious, Agboniroho Promise, Ogbonna Michael, Sunday Onyekachi, Igbinogie Amos, Favour Abdul, Efe Ediyeri, Benson Kelly, Oliver Chijioke, Odia Aisosa, and Arinze Michael. Brainson Bassey, Paul Oreavbiere, Marvelous Imasuen, Adams Eloghosa, Omorodion Ayomide, Owenaze Wealth, and Nathaniel Ihaza completed the list.
The EFCC explained that each of the convicts was arraigned on one-count separate charges. A sample charge read: “That you Ogbeide Osayande Bright (m) on or about the 15th of May, 2025 within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did have in your possession, documents which you knew or ought to have known contained false pretence, thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 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 defendants reportedly pleaded guilty to the charges read against them. EFCC prosecutors – F. A. Jirbo, I. M. Elodi, I. K. Agwai, K. Y. Bello, Ibrahim Al-Amin, M. S. Dahiru, Salihu Ahmed, Bala Rabah, and Faisal Ibrahim – urged the court to convict and sentence them without delay.
While urging leniency, defence lawyers pleaded for mercy, claiming that the accused persons had shown remorse.
Delivering judgment, Justice Erhabor on 29 May and Justice Aziegbemhin on 4 June sentenced each of the convicts to two years imprisonment with an option of ₦200,000 fine.
According to the EFCC, “In addition to their sentences, all the convicts forfeited their phones, computers, and money found in their respective bank accounts to the Federal Government of Nigeria and undertook in writing to be of good behaviour henceforth.”
The Commission further stated that their conviction followed a sting operation carried out by operatives of the Benin Zonal Directorate after intelligence linked them to various cybercrimes. The suspects were arrested, investigated, charged, and eventually convicted.
