Court sentences 11 internet fraudsters in Port Harcourt
JUSTICE Adamu Turaki Mohammed of the Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt has convicted and sentenced 11 internet fraudsters to various prison terms.
The convicts were prosecuted by the Benin Zonal Office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission ( EFCC) for offences bordering on impersonation and obtaining by false pretense.
Those convicted were Anhwo Samson, Harry Omoegbekun Hamilton, Odiase Martins, Okuson Godspower, Destiny Ighalo, Andrew
Onoyoa, Omebu Happy, Enofe Michael, Adelakun Abdulkareem, Akpowowo Favour and Imaah Joseph.
They all pleaded guilty to one- count charge each preferred against them by the commission.
In view of their pleas, the prosecution counsel, Ahmed Arogha, prayed the court to convict and sentence the defendants accordingly. However, John Okhuihievbe and O. A. Egharevba, counsel to the defendants, pleaded with the court to temper justice with mercy as the defendants were first time offenders who had become remorseful.
Justice Mohammed convicted and sentenced all the defendants to various terms of imprisonment. Samson bagged two- year imprisonment or a fine of N200,000. He is also to forfeit N3,684,439.18 to the Federal Government, while Ighalo got two- year imprisonment or a fine 500,000. Ighalo is to forfeit a Luxus SUV 330 model, laptops and phones to the Federal Government.
Andrew Onoyoa was sentenced to three- year imprisonment or a fine of N1 million. He is also to forfeit Luxus 230 SUV and a Toyota Camry car to the government.