The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has announced the one-year prison sentence of fifty-one internet fraudsters as ordered by a Federal High Court in Onitsha, Anambra State.
In a report shared on Wednesday, the EFCC stated on their social media page, that 41 suspects pleaded guilty to charges such as obtaining by false pretense, possession of fraudulent documents, personation, and aiding in committing an offense.
The sentences were handed down by Justices S. M Shuaibu and Hauwa Inuwa after arraignment by the Enugu Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Furthermore, Michael Ikechukwu Ani, the EFCC counsel, had asked the court to convict and sentence them accordingly.
However, defense lawyers, which included Wisdom Ogbonna, Bernard Okeke, James Nwatarali, and Arinze Anyigo, pleaded for leniency, asking the court to consider their clients’ remorsefulness.
The convicts are; Douglas James, Raphael Chikezie Uwakwe, Paul Chidera Kalu, Chisom Linus, Chiemezie Nweke, Eze Ugochukwu Stanley, Ndubuisi Nwafor, Ifeanyi Samuel, Nwosu Chukwuemeka, Madueke Emmanuel, Edozie Daniel Timothy, Ahmed Fredrick Lukman, Godwin Chukwuemelie Julius, Okafor Vincent Chiemerie, Ugochukwu Raphael Ena, Chukwuemeka Franklin Obiji, Chimaobi Emmanuel Gabriel, Abonyi Chibuike Jude, Chiemelie Igboekwuna Christian and Okafor Chukwuma Desmaond.
Others include; Jezreel Arihiakamah Chinwendu, Paul Okereke Chiadi, Peter Chidera Iwu, Onyeji Victor Chinecherem, Tochukwu Eze Solomon, Fred Chidera Okoye, Ezema Chiemerie Stanley, Emeka Ogbonna Daniel, Obinna Stanley Okafor, Udochukwu Peter Nnaewezie, Ebuka Johnson Olu, Okochi Ebuka Stanley, Promise Ogbodo Echezona, Ebuka Chukwu Joshua, Chisom Henry Udeagwueze, Ihechi Okechukwu Bright, Chibueze Maxwell Stephen, Ebuka Lucky Nwankwo, Isah Chinonso Peter, Ifeanyi Oguoke Kingsley and Chinonso Eze Innocent.
In another trailer, Justice Inuwa convicted and sentenced 27 of the convicts on Thursday, May 2, while the remaining 14 were convicted on Friday, May 3.
The convicts sentenced on May 3 are: Chiadi, Samuel, Chinecherem, Timothy, Stanley, Bright, Iwu, Lukman, Nweke, Chukwuemeka, Okafor, Stephen, Chiemerie, and Christian.
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They were each sentenced to one year in prison or a fine of N100,000. Additionally, the Justices ordered them to perform community service as stated in Section 462 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act.
The items recovered from the internet fraudsters, including their mobile phones and laptops, will be auctioned by the EFCC, and the proceeds will be paid into the Treasury Single Account. Also, all the convicts were arrested for internet fraud and were charged and convicted in court.
