Three jailed over Internet fraud in Benin

Glory Ebomah

Three internet fraudsters, Daniel Chidube Emeka, Ukazu Henry Chikwudi and Akputu Collins, were on Tuesday, October 11, 2022, convicted and sentenced to seven years imprisonment.

The convicts were jailed by Justice Efe Ikponmwonba of Edo State High Court sitting in Benin City.

Head, of Media and Publicity, EFCC, said the trio’s conviction was based on their arraignment by the Benin Zonal Command of the EFCC, separately on one count of impersonation and obtaining by false pretence.

The charge against Emeka read: “That you Daniel Chidube Emeka (M) sometimes between 2021 to 9th September 2022 in Benin City, Edo State within the jurisdiction of this honourable court did with intent to defraud represent yourself to be Javon Blue, a verified and legitimate Bitcoin trader and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 484 of the Criminal Code Law Cap 48 Laws of Bendel State of Nigeria (as applicable in Edo State) 1976.”

The defendants pleaded guilty to the charge when they were read to them individually.

Based on their pleas of guilt, prosecution counsel, Ibrahim Mohammed and I.K. Agwai prayed to the court to convict and sentence them accordingly. 

Justice Ikponmwonba, thereafter, convicted and sentenced Emeka to three years imprisonment with an option of Two Hundred Thousand Naira (N200, 000) as a fine while Collins and Chukwudi bagged two years imprisonment each, or a fine of (N200, 000) each.

The judge ordered the forfeiture of a Mercedes-Benz GLK350 recovered from Emeka and the sum of N1,932,893.73 (One Million, Nine Hundred and Thirty-Two Thousand, Eight Hundred and Ninety-Three Naira, Seventy-Three kobo) in his Fidelity bank account. Also, to be forfeited are the defendant’s phones and balances in other bank accounts, such as Sterling bank, Keystone bank, First Bank and Wema bank as proceeds of crime. All the accounts are to be permanently closed.  In addition, all the defendants are to undertake in writing to be of good behaviour henceforth.

The road to the Correctional Centre opened for the convicts when they were arrested by operatives of the Benin Zonal Command of the EFCC, for internet-related offences. 

One of the convicts, Emeka represented himself as Javon Blue, a verified and legitimate Bitcoin trader in order to defraud unsuspecting victims.