- * As Court Sends Barber, One Other To Prison In Benin-City, Edo State
By Cosmas Enahoro (Edo State Correspondent, in Benin-City)
Christine Brown, a British national and a victim of internet fraud, was, on Monday, August 28, 2023, presented with the sum of $26,000USD by the Benin Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.
Brown expressed gratitude to the Commission for its efforts which she said, has brought some succour to her after losing her life’s savings to the fraudsters.
The 70-year-old had petitioned the Commission after being defrauded by an internet fraudster through a romance scam. Narrating her ordeal, Brown said she became a victim after she met a purported John Barrowman, an entertainer and citizen of America online. Unknown to her, he was a fraudster. Brown said they became romantically involved, and the fraudster began to demand money which she sent to him through wire transfers, Bitcoin and gift cards.
Kanu Idagu, the Zonal Commander, while handing over the recovered fund, said the Commission will continue to discharge its mandate to the betterment of the society. "We are doing a whole lot in ensuring that victims of fraud are restituted where possible, and we will continue to do more," he said. He admonished the public to be circumspect in whatever they do online as fraudsters prowl the internet seeking to defraud unsuspecting victims.
Meanwhile, a 25-year-old barber, Ogudu Matthew and Ajayi Osamuyi were on Tuesday, August 29, 2024, convicted and sentenced to prison by Justice M. Itsueli of Edo State High Court sitting in Benin City, Edo State for internet fraud.
The duo were arraigned on one count charge of impersonation and obtaining by false pretence by the Benin Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.
Ogudu and Osamuyi’s road to prison began following their arrest based on intelligence linking them to internet-related fraud activities. In the course of the investigation, Osamuyi was discovered to have impersonated Huang Dingxiang, a Chinese national in order to defraud unsuspecting victims.
The charge against Ogudu read: “That you Ogudu Matthew Orukpe (m) on or about the 17th of March 2022 in Benin City, Edo State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did take possession of the aggregate sum of N3,295,012.93 (Three Million, Two Hundred and Ninety five Thousand, Twelve Naira and Ninety kobo) which you knew formed part of your unlawful act to wit: internet fraud and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 17(b) of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (Establishment) Act 2004”
Upon arraignment, the defendants pleaded guilty to their respective charges, prompting the prosecution counsel Salihu Ahmed to ask the court to convict and sentence them accordingly. However, counsel to the defendant pleaded with the court to temper justice with mercy as the defendants were first time offenders.
Justice Itsueli convicted and sentenced Ogudu and Osamuyi to three and two years imprisonment respectively with an option of Two Hundred Thousand Naira fine. They are also to forfeit their phones and undertake in writing to be of good behaviour. NNL.
