Court jails five fraudsters in Benin

The Benin Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Wednesday, June 8, 2022, secured the conviction of five fraudsters before Justice Efe Ikponmwonba of the Edo State High Court sitting in Benin City, on separate one count charge bordering on impersonation and obtaining by false pretence.

The convicts are: Omoragon Paul, Ogiamien Nosa Christopher, Oghenekume Moses, Osamede Egbon Nicholas and Bashiru Mohammed.

The charge against Paul reads:  “that you, Omoragbon Paul between 2020 and 2021 in Benin City, Edo State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court with intent to defraud falsely represent yourself to be one Johnson Ben, an American on Instagram account created by you and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under section 484 of the Criminal Code, Cap 48 Laws of Bendel State of Nigeria”.

The charge against Mohammed reads: “that you, Bashiru Mohammed sometime in August 2020 in Benin City, Edo State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court fraudulently converted to your use the aggregate sum of N1,850,000 property of Abdulsalam Usman Yusufu , which sum was credited into Access Bank account number :0007189939 provided by you as part-payment for the purchase of a 2012 model Lexus RX350 and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 383(2)(f) of the Criminal Code, Cap 48 Laws of Bendel State of Nigeria (as applicable in Edo State) 1976 and punishable under section 390 of same Law”.

They all pleaded guilty to the charges, prompting the prosecution counsel, K.U.Udus to ask the court to convict and sentence them accordingly.

Justice Ikponmwonba sentenced Paul , Nicholas and Moses to two years imprisonment each with an option of Two Hundred Thousand Naira fine , while Christopher bagged two years imprisonment with an option of Two Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira fine.

Mohammed was sentenced to two years imprisonment with an option of One Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira fine. He is also to restitute the victim of the sum of N1, 850,000 (One million, Eight Hundred and Fifty Thousand naira).

Justice Ikponmwonba ordered the forfeiture of a Toyota Camry Car belonging to Paul and a Lexus RX 330 SUV belonging to Christopher to the Federal Government of Nigeria. The judge also ordered the forfeiture of phones and laptop recovered from the defendants, to the federal government of Nigeria