EFCC convicts Kelvin Aneke and Leonard Osaretin for Internet Fraud

In a significant ruling, Justice M. Itsueli of Edo State High Court, situated in Benin City, Edo State, pronounced Kelvin Ifeanyi Aneke and Leonard Emmanuel Osaretin guilty of fraudulent activities and handed down prison sentences on Thursday, July 27, 2023.

The convictions came as a result of separate one-count charges brought against them by the Benin Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for unlawful possession of fraudulent documents. The EFCC acted upon credible intelligence regarding their dubious actions, leading to the arrests of Aneke, 23, and Osaretin, 25.

During the investigations, it was revealed that Kelvin Ifeanyi Aneke had been impersonating an American national, Calvin Hills, to deceive unsuspecting victims and defraud them. On the other hand, Leonard Emmanuel Osaretin was involved in romance scams. He had set up a fictitious female Instagram account under the name ‘anaroberts2221’ to perpetrate his fraudulent schemes.

Kelvin Ifeanyi Aneke was charged with the offence of possessing documents containing false pretences, which is contrary to Section 6 and Section 8 of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offenses Act, 2006, and punishable under Section 1(3) of the same Act.

Upon their arraignment, both defendants pleaded guilty to their respective charges, prompting the prosecution counsel, K.Y Bello, to request the court to convict and sentence them accordingly. However, the defendants’ legal representatives implored the court to show leniency, emphasizing that it was their first offence.

After careful consideration of the case, Justice Itsueli found the defendants guilty and sentenced them to three years in prison, with an alternative of a Two Hundred Thousand Naira fine. Furthermore, they were ordered to forfeit their mobile phones and the remaining balances in their bank accounts, as these were deemed to be proceeds of their criminal activities, which will be handed over to the Federal Government of Nigeria.

This landmark ruling sends a strong message to those involved in internet fraud, emphasizing the consequences they will face when caught. The judiciary’s firm stance against cybercriminals aims to protect innocent individuals from falling victim to such deceptive schemes and maintain the integrity of online transactions and interactions.