Internet Fraud: Court Sends Siblings, 14 Others to Prison for 45 Years
As 2 Yahoo Boys Bag Jail Terms in Kaduna
Two brothers, Clement Osariemen and Vincent Osariemen, were among 16 internet fraudsters convicted and sentenced to prison by Justices Efe Ikponmwonba and M. Itsueli of Edo State High Court sitting in Benin City.
The other convicts are Clinton Oyaden, Davidson Aghatise Enabulele, Adeniyi Temitope, Oshiobugie Pascal Enakhena, Akparoboke Oghenero, Sunday Christian, Godstime Okolie, Osagie Clinton, Adelike Precious, Nwankwo Ebere, Olawale David Oluwagbemiga, Fajemilusi Tosin, Godspower Uwaifo Osamudiamen and Uvbierimi Raphael.
They were arraigned by the Benin Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on separate one count charges bordering on possession of fraudulent documents and intent to defraud, according to a statement on the Agency’s official Facebook page.
Upon arraignment, the defendants pleaded guilty to their respective counts prompting prosecution counsel, F.A. Jirbo, Al-Amun Ibrahim Abdul and Saliu Ahmed to pray the court to convict and sentence the defendants accordingly.
However, counsel to the defendants pleaded with the court to temper justice with mercy as the defendants were first time offenders who have become remorseful for their actions.
Justice Ikponmwonba thereafter convicted and sentenced Clement and Vincent to three years imprisonment with an option of N500,000 fine, while Ebere bagged three years imprisonment or a fine of N400,000.
Osamudiamen, Enabulele, Enekhena, Okolie, Clinton and Oyadan Clinton bagged three years imprisonment or a fine of N200,000.
The trio of Temitope, Enekhena, Raphael got two years imprisonment or a fine of N200,000, while the duo of Oghenero and Precious, were jailed three years with the option of a fine of N100,000.
Justice Itsueli convicted and sentenced Godtime and Sunday to three years imprisonment or a fine of N200,000 and N100,000 respectively.
Justice Ikponmwonba ordered that two Lexus ES 330, phones and balance of money found in the convicts’ accounts, being proceeds of crime, be forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria and the bank accounts closed.
In the same vein, Justice A.A Bello of the Kaduna State High Court sitting in Kaduna, on Monday, convicted and sentenced the duo of Tachio Abba and Wisdom Omofunhe Billy to two years imprisonment on separate one count charges bordering on possession of scam documents and impersonation.
The convicts were arrested by the Kaduna Zonal Command of the EFCC around Trikania area of the state, based on intelligence on their alleged internet fraud-related activities.
Upon investigation, Tachio was found to have an Instagram account with the name Johnson Young where he claimed to be a United States military personnel and used the false identity to defraud unsuspecting white ladies with promises of romantic relationships.
He operated Facebook accounts with the name Jane Smith, Rose Mark and Hannah Jooshua which he uses to defraud unsuspecting white men.
In the case of Wisdom, he impersonated an American actor, Jason Momoa on Instagram to chat unsuspecting persons and received gift cards valued at $200 from victims.
The defendants pleaded guilty to their respective charges.
Justice Bello, convicted and sentenced Tachio to two years imprisonment with an option of fine of N100,000. He is to also forfeit an Apple iPhone 11 and the sum of $50 to the Federal Government of Nigeria through EFCC.
Also, Wisdom bagged two years imprisonment with an option of N200,000 fine. He was also ordered to forfeit an iPhone 12 Pro Max to the Federal government of Nigeria.
The convict has already restituted the sum of $200, being the proceeds of crime.
