Justice Efe Ikponmwonba of Edo State High Court, Benin City, on Tuesday, November 22, 2022 convicted and sentenced the trio of Odoko Emumena Daniel, Idemudia Destiny Eghosa and Asuelimhen Edward to nine years imprisonment for fraud.

 

wful possession of fraudulent documents and personation by the Benin Zonal Command of the EFCC.

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They were arraigned on separate one count charge bordering on unla

The charge against Daniel reads: "that you Odoko Emumena Daniel on or about 16th August, 2022 within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did with intent to defraud knowingly have in your possession on your iPhone 11 with IMEI Number 356548102110317 documents which you knew or ought to have known contain a false pretense and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 6 of or the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act 2006 and punishable under Section 1(3) of the same Act" .

 

The charge against Eghosa reads: "that you, Idemudia Destiny Eghosa 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 Javier Ochoa, a verifies and legitimate Bitcoin trader and 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".

 

Upon arraignment , the defendants pleaded guilty to their respective charges.

 

In view of their pleas, the prosecution counsel I.K. Agwai prayed the court to convict and sentenced them accordingly. However, counsel to the defendants urged the court to temper justice with mercy as the defendants have become remorseful for their actions.

 

Justice Ikponmwonba convicted and sentenced Odoko , Eghosa and Edward to three years imprisonment with an option of Two Hundred Thousand Naira fine

In addition, the balance of Six Hundred and Thirty Eight Thousand, Four Hundred and Thirty Six Kobo found in the convicts bank accounts, one white Hyundai Sonata 2012 model car and phones which are proceeds of crime be forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria .

 

The judge also ordered the closure of the convicts' bank accounts in First Bank of Nigeria, Zenith Bank , Union Bank and Ecobank.