By Nkechi Eze
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has secured the conviction of eight internet fraudsters before Justice M. Itsueli of the Edo State High Court sitting in Benin City. The judgment was delivered on Tuesday, September 2, 2025, following separate prosecutions by the Commission’s Benin Zonal Directorate.
According to EFCC spokesperson Dele Oyewale, the convicts are: Friday Osamudiamenwen, Monday Moses, Wisdom Idahosa, Osazuwa Oghomwen, Christopher Victor, Odion Desmond Osas, Monday Louis Adagboyin, and Bright Ogbiede. They were arraigned on separate one-count charges bordering on advance fee fraud, obtaining by false pretence, retention of proceeds of crime, and possession of fraudulent documents.
One of the charges against Odion Desmond Osas reads:
“That you, Odion Desmond Osas (m), on or about the 15th of August, 2025, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did have in your possession, on your iPhone 14 with IMEI Number 351246958475661, documents which you knew or ought to have known contained a false pretence and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 6 and 8 of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act 2006 and punishable under Section 1(3) of the same Act.”
Upon arraignment, all the defendants pleaded guilty to the charges. Prosecution counsel K.W. Chukuma-Eneh, I.M. Elodi, I.K. Agwai, M.S. Dahiru, and Ibrahim Al-Amin urged the court to convict and sentence them accordingly. Defence counsel, however, pleaded for leniency, noting that the defendants had shown remorse for their actions.
Justice Itsueli convicted and sentenced Osamudiamwen, Idahosa, and Victor to two years imprisonment each, with an option of a ₦300,000 fine. Moses and Oghomwen were sentenced to two years imprisonment each, or a fine of ₦250,000. Desmond and Adagboyin received two years imprisonment each, or a ₦200,000 fine. Ogbiede was sentenced to two years imprisonment, with an option of a ₦100,000 fine.
The court also ordered the forfeiture of all the convicts’ mobile phones, laptop computers, and money traced to their bank accounts, being tools and proceeds of their crimes to the Federal Government. Additionally, each convict signed undertakings to be of good behaviour henceforth.
The EFCC disclosed that the convicts’ arrest followed credible intelligence that exposed their involvement in fraudulent internet activities. Their prosecution, conviction, and sentencing underscore the Commission’s commitment to tackling cybercrime and ensuring accountability in line with the law.
