Justice Efe Ikponmwonba of the Edo State High Court in Benin City delivered a significant verdict on August 1, 2023, as Destiny Okokhue, Godwin Michael Ejovwoke, and Kazeem Abidemi Samson were convicted and sentenced to three years imprisonment for fraud.
The trio faced prosecution on one count charge of intent to defraud and unlawful possession of fraudulent documents by the Benin Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The arrests were made based on intelligence that linked them to fraudulent activities. Ejovwoke, aged 24, impersonated Clinton Max, a 45-year-old American doctor on Facebook to deceive unsuspecting victims. Similarly, Samson, aged 25, impersonated Wang Hong and Feng Robinson on Facebook and Instagram to defraud his targets.
The charge against Samson reads: “That you, Kazeem Abidemi Samson on or about 22nd May 2023 within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did have in your possession on your iPhone 12 Pro Max with IMEI: 356712110275005 documents which you knew or ought to have known contained false pretence and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 6 and 8 of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Acts 2006 and punishable under Section 1(3) of the same Act.”
Upon their arraignment, the defendants pleaded guilty to their respective charges, prompting the prosecution counsel, Al-Amin Abdul Ibrahim, and A.S. Bala-Ribah to request the court to convict and sentence them accordingly.
In response, Justice Ikponmwonba convicted and sentenced each defendant to three years imprisonment with an option of Two Hundred Thousand Naira as a fine. Furthermore, the judge ordered the convicts to forfeit their phones and the balance in their bank accounts, as they were identified as proceeds of the crime, to the Federal Government of Nigeria.
This judgment serves as a strong message against online fraud and showcases the commitment of the Edo State High Court in Benin City to uphold justice in combating cybercrime.
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