Justice A.N. Erhabor of Edo State High Court, sitting in Benin City, Edo State convicted and sentenced nine internet fraudsters in the same manner Justices R.M.Aikawa of the Federal High Court and D.H of the Kaduna State High Court did the same to another five fraudsters.
All the convicts were arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The convicts in Benin are: Desmond Aghanenu, Okolie Bright, Emeka Matthew, Anikwushe Calin, Precious Onyeka Okonkwo, Ojie Victor Emeka, Safety Tamarakuro Austin, Promise Osas Lucky and Ebi Ferguson.They were prosecuted on a separate one-count charge bordering on obtaining by false pretence, retention of proceeds of crime and possession of fraudulent documents.
The charge against Desmond Aghanenu reads: “That you Desmond Aghanenu (m) on or about the 14th of March, 2025 within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did have in your possession, documents which you knew or ought to have known contained false pretence, thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 6 and 8 (b) of the Advance Fee Fraud and other Fraud Related Offences Act 2006 and punishable under Section 1(3) of the same Act.”A
All the defendants pleaded guilty to their charges when they were read to them, prompting the prosecution counsel, F.A Jirbo, I.M Elodi, Isa K. Agwai and Bala-Ribah to pray the court to convict and sentence them accordingly, while counsel to the defendants pleaded with the court to temper justice with mercy, stating that they have become remorseful for their actions.
Justice Erhabor convicted and sentenced Desmond Aghanenu, Okolie Bright, Emeka Matthew, Anikwushe Calin, Precious Onyeka Okonkwo, Ojie Victor Emeka, Safety Tamarakuro Austin, Promise Osas Lucky to two years imprisonment, each or pay N200, 000 (Two Hundred Thousand Naira) fine respectively, while Ebi Ferguson bagged three years imprisonment or pay a fine of N200, 000 (Two Hundred Thousand Naira).
In addition to their sentences, all the convicts forfeited their phones, computers and money found in their respective bank accounts to the Federal Government of Nigeria and undertook in writing to be of good behaviour henceforth.The convicts’ journey to the Correctional Centre began with their arrest in a sting operation by operatives of the Benin Zonal Directorate of the EFCC following intelligence that linked them to fraudulent internet activities. They were prosecuted and convicted.
Those convicted in Kaduna are The convicts are, Henry Kyasi Yohanna (a.k.a Alessandra Bondani), Samson Adeoye Iyangbe (a.k.a Trans Anna Bella), Bashir Kashim (a.k.a Hannah Barron) Merenini Ekene and Yakubu Musa.
While Yohanna, Iyangbe, Kashim and Ekene were prosecuted before Justice Aikawa on a separate one-count charge, bordering on impersonation and possession of fraudulent documents, obtaining by false pretence and retention of proceeds of crime, Musa was prosecuted before Justice Khobo on amended one-count charge, bordering on obtaining by false pretence to the tune of N3million.
The charge against Yohanna reads: “That you, Henry Kyasi Yohanna (a.k.a Alessandra Bondani) male, sometime in 2023 in Jos, Plateau State within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, falsely presented yourself as Alessandra Bondani; a white woman on Facebook and Telegram (which are online social media applications) and in that assumed character gained advantage for yourself the total sum of Two Hundred United States Dollars ($200.00), which you knew to be false and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 22(2)(b)(ii) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc) Act, 2015 and punishable under Section 22(2)(b)(iv) of the same Act.”
The charge against Musa reads: “That you Yakubu Musa sometime in 2014 in Kaduna within the jurisdiction of this honourable court dishonestly misappropriated a certain property to wit: the total sum of N3,000,000.00 (Three Million Naira) only, property belonging to Thalmon Friday, and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 308 of Kaduna State Penal Code Law, 1999 and punishable under Section 308 of the same Law.”
They all pleaded “guilty” to their charge when they were read to them, following which prosecution counsel, K.S Ogunlade, F.A.I Asemebo and M. Lawa prayed the court to convict and sentence them accordingly, while the defence counsel pleaded with the court to temper justice with mercy, stating that their clients have become remorseful for their actions.
Justice R.M.Aikawa convicted and sentenced Yohanna to five years imprisonment or to pay N600,000.00 (Six Hundred Thousand Naira) fine. In addition he forfeited the sum of $200.00, being proceeds of his crime, one Redmi 13c phone and one Dell laptop computer being tools of his crime to the federal government.
Iyangbe bagged five years imprisonment or to pay N600,000.00 (Six Hundred Thousand Naira ) fine. In addition, he forfeited the sum of $15.00 (Fifteen United StatesDollars), being the proceeds of crime and one Gionee phone, being the tool of his crime to the federal government.
Kashim was convicted and sentenced to five years imprisonment or to pay N600,000.00 (Six Hundred Thousand Naira) fine. In addition, he forfeited the sum of $500.00 (Five Hundred United States Dollars) being the proceeds of crime, one iPhone 14 pro Max mobile phone and one Samsung A14 mobile phone, being the tools of his crime in favour of the federal government.
Ekene on his part, bagged five years imprisonment or to pay N200,000.00 (Two Hundred Thousand Naira) fine. In addition, he forfeited his Techno Smart 4 mobile phone, being the tool of his crime to the federal Republic of Nigeria.
Yohanna and Iyangbe were arrested in Jos, Plateau State, while Kashim and Ekene were arrested in Minna, Niger State following actionable intelligence that linked them to fraudulent internet activities.
Justice Khobo sentenced Musa to one year imprisonment or to pay N500,000.00 (Five Hundred Thousand Naira) In addition, he is to restitute his victim the sum of N3million (Three Million Naira).
Musa’s road to jail began following his victim’s petition that in 2014 that he, Musa, being his inlaw informed him that there is a plot of land at Mahuta area of Kaduna State for sale at the cost of N3million, of which he became interested and transferred the money to him. While Musa never bought the land, all efforts to recover the money from him proved abortive.
