A High Court sitting in Benin City has sentenced five individuals to prison for their involvement in internet fraud, according to a statement released Wednesday by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The convictions were secured by the EFCC’s Benin Zonal Directorate before Justice M. Itsueli of the Edo State High Court. The convicted individuals — Ayo Korede, Ogbemudia Osaretin, Harry Ehimien, Osasumwen Osahenator, and Efosa Richard — faced separate one-count charges, including impersonation, obtaining money under false pretences, retention of criminal proceeds, and possession of fraudulent documents.
According to court documents, Osaretin was found in possession of fraudulent documents on his iPhone 14 Pro Max on July 31, 2025. Prosecutors stated that he knew, or ought to have known, that the documents contained false information. His offence was charged under Sections 6 and 8 of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006, and is punishable under Section 1(3) of the same Act.
All five defendants pleaded guilty to the charges.
Prosecutors from the EFCC — I.M. Elodi, I.K. Agwai, K.Y. Bello, A.A. Ibrahim, Ibrahim Faisal, and M.S. Dahiru — urged the court to convict and sentence the defendants according to the law. Defence counsel, however, pleaded for leniency, noting that the accused were remorseful and expressed willingness to reform.
Justice Itsueli sentenced Korede, Osaretin, Osahenator, and Richard to two years’ imprisonment each, with an option of a N200,000 fine. Ehimien received a similar sentence with the alternative of paying a N100,000 fine or completing community service.
In addition to the custodial sentences and fines, the court ordered the forfeiture of the defendants’ mobile phones, laptops, and funds in their bank accounts to the Federal Government. Investigators confirmed these items were used in or derived from fraudulent activities. Each defendant also signed a written undertaking to exhibit good behaviour going forward.
The EFCC stated that the arrests were made following credible intelligence linking the five to various online scams. These schemes typically involve impersonation, deception, and the use of digital platforms to defraud unsuspecting victims.
As part of its ongoing crackdown on cybercrime, the EFCC reiterated its warning to young Nigerians against engaging in internet fraud — commonly referred to as “Yahoo Yahoo.” The Commission urged them to pursue legitimate sources of income, stressing that cybercriminals face arrest, prosecution, and the loss of ill-gotten assets.
