By Christian George
Edo State High Court sitting in Benin City convicted 11 ‘Yahoo boys’ on Tuesday, June 20.
A 26-year-old Ohenhen Victor Ikponwosa, a graduate of Ambrose Ali University, Ekpoma was one of the internet fraudsters who were sentenced to prison by Justice Efe Ikponmwonba.
Others include Iredia Junior Ehis, Awe Macdonald, Azanuwa Junior, Kelvin Akenuwa, Godspower Oghenekohwa, Collins Daniel, Junior Osarobo, Marvis Ogbodaga Osemudiamen, Jephthah Eromosele and Christopher Christian Dickson.
The internet fraudsters were arrested following an intelligent report of their criminal activities by operatives of the Benin Zonal Command of the EFCC.
They were subsequently arraigned on separate one-count charges each bordering on possession of alleged proceeds of crime, false representation and unlawful possession of fraudulent documents, contrary to Sections 17(a) of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission ( Establishment) Act, 2004 and punishable under Section 17(b) of the same Act, according to Daily Post.
They pleaded guilty to the various charges and the prosecution counsel, I.M. Elodi, Salihu Ahmed and KY Bello prayed the court to convict and sentence the defendants accordingly.
The counsel to the defendant pleaded the court to temper justice with mercy as the defendants were first-timers in the crime.
Justice Ikponmwonba thereafter convicted and sentenced Osemudiamen, Ikponwosa and Ehis to three years imprisonment with an option of Two Hundred Thousand Naira as a fine.
Others bagged three and two years imprisonment depending on the weight of their offence with an option of N200,000 and N100,000 fine while a Lexus jeep, phone recovered was forfeited to the federal government.
