Benin court sentences eight FUTA students, six others for internet fraud

Thirteen individuals, including eight undergraduates from the Federal University of Technology, Akure, Ondo State, were convicted and sentenced to various jail terms by Justice Efe Ikponmwonba of the Edo State High Court in Benin City. The convictions, stemming from charges of impersonation and possession of fraudulent documents, were brought forth by the Benin Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Among the convicts were Ayodeji Emmanuel, Oyebade Johnpeace Jesustofunmi, Babatunde Oluwapelumi Richard, and others, each facing one count charge related to their fraudulent activities. Upon arraignment, all defendants pleaded guilty, prompting the prosecution to seek appropriate convictions, while defense counsel appealed for leniency.

Justice Ikponmwonba handed down varying sentences, with some individuals receiving three years imprisonment or a fine of N100,000.00, and others given two years imprisonment or a fine of N100,000.00 each. Additionally, Umaru, convicted earlier for retention of proceeds of crime, faced a similar sentence and was ordered to make restitution to the victim.

The court also ordered the forfeiture of the convicts’ assets, including mobile phones, bank account balances, and a Mercedes Benz GLA250, all deemed proceeds of crime, to the Federal government of Nigeria. The individuals, whose fraudulent activities were uncovered through actionable intelligence, were involved in various internet scams, including Bitcoin schemes conducted through social media platforms.