Five internet fraudsters, James Joseph, Osamuyimen Okunbor, Osabuochien Aisogbonbu Francis, Mathew Odosa Obedience and Samuel Friday were on Monday August 25, 2025 convicted and jailed by Justice M. Itsueli of Edo State High Court, sitting in Benin City.They were prosecuted by the Benin Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC on separate one-count charges, bordering on obtaining by false pretence, retention of proceeds of crime and possession of fraudulent documents.The charge against Francis reads: "That you Osabuochien Aisogbonbu Francis (m) on or about the 15th of August, 2025 within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did have in your possession, on your iPhone Xs Max with IMEI Number 358744092932905, documents which you knew or ought to have known contain a false pretence and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 6 and 8 of the Advance Fee Fraud and other Fraud Related Offences Act 2006 and punishable under Section 1(3) of the same Act.”They all pleaded “guilty” to their charge, following which prosecution counsel, K. Y. Bello and M.S Dahiru prayed the court to convict and sentence them accordingly, while the defence counsel pleaded with the court to temper justice with mercy, stating that they were first time offenders who have become remorseful for their actions.Justice Itsueli convicted and sentenced each of them to two years imprisonment or to pay N300, 000 (Three hundred Thousand Naira) fine, respectively. In addition,
they forfeited their mobile phones and laptop computers, being the tools of their crimes and money discovered in their respective bank accounts, being the proceeds of their crime to the federal government and further undertook in writing to be of good behaviour going forward.The convicts’ journey to jail began with their arrest by operatives of the Benin Zonal Directorate of the EFCC in a sting operation that followed credible intelligence that exposed their involvements in fraudulent internet activities.
Dele Oyewale
Head, Media & Publicity
August 26, 2025
