Suspects arrested by the EFCC PHOTO: Twitter/@officialEFCC

Six internet fraudsters were on Monday, September 25, convicted and sentenced to various jail terms by Justice Efe Ikponmwonba of Edo State High Court sitting in Benin City. In a statement on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) X handle, the six convicts were arraigned separately on one count charge of impersonation and possession of fraudulent documents by the Benin Zonal Command of the Commission. The names of the defendants are Napoleon Efe Miracle, Efetobore Prosper Eghagha, Jephthah Godbless Azino, Akiefe Desmond, Chukwuyenum Kenneth Ifeakachukwu and Efetayobor Ochuko They were arrested by operatives of the Commission based on intelligence on the activities of alleged fraudsters in the Egbiki and Oputo communities, Ovwian, Udu Local Government, Area of Delta State. Upon arraignment, the defendants pleaded guilty to their respective charges, prompting the prosecution counsel, F.A. Jirbo to pray the court to convict them and sentence them accordingly. However, the defence counsel pleaded with the court to temper justice with mercy as they were first-time offenders who have become remorseful for their actions. Justice Ikponmwonba convicted and sentenced Ifeakachukwu, Miracle, Eghagha, Azino and Ochuko to three years imprisonment with an option of N500,000 each, while Desmond was sentenced to three years imprisonment or a fine of N300,000. In addition, the judge ordered the convicts to forfeit a Range Rover Evogue 2013 model SUV, Toyota Venza 2010 model car, one Lexus RX350 2010 model car, and mobile phones to the Federal Government of Nigeria. The total balance in Desmond Akiefe’s bank account, being proceeds of crime, is also forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria. In this article