Crime
Three internet fraudsters jailed in Benin
The Benin Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Monday October 18, 2021, secured the conviction of Adeniyi Rufus Oluwafemi, Onoriode Precious and William Omorebokhae before Justice Efe Ikponwonba of the Edo State High Court sitting in Benin City, Edo State.
The trio were arraigned on one count charge each for offences bordering on impersonation, neglect to prevent felony and attempting to obtain by false pretence.
The charge against Oluwafemi reads: “that you Adeniyi Rufus Oluwafemi (m) sometimes in February, 2021 at Benin City within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court knowing that one Mrs. Faith Usman designed to commit or was committing a felony, failed to use all reasonable mean to prevent the commission thereof and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 515 of the Criminal Code Act CAP 48 Laws of Bendel State of Nigeria (As applicable in Edo State) 1976”.
The charge against Omoreboghae reads: “that you William Imore Omoreboghae (m) sometimes in June, 2020 at Benin City, Edo State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court with intent to defraud did falsely represented yourself to be William Zurg Rice and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 484 of the Criminal Code Cap 48 Laws of Bendel State of Nigeria (As applicable in Edo State) 1976”.
Upon arraignment, the trio pleaded guilty to their respective charge.
In view of their plea, prosecution counsel, I. K. Agwai prayed the court to convict and sentence the defendants accordingly while the defence counsel, Iyangbe Joshua Osobase and Vitalis Nwafor urged the court to honour the plea bargain agreement between their clients and the prosecution.
Justice Ikponwonba convicted and sentenced Omoreboghae to three years imprisonment with option of fine of N500, 000 while Oluwafemi bagged one year imprisonment or a fine of N200, 000. Precious bagged one year imprisonment with an option of One Hundred Thousand Naira (N100, 000) fine.
The convicts are to forfeit the phones recovered from them during investigation to the Federal Government of Nigeria. They are also to undertake in writing to be of good behaviour.
