A High Court sitting in Benin City, Edo State, chaired by Justice Efe Ikponmwonba handed down convictions and varying jail sentences to two brothers, Ochuko Godfrey and Ochuko Prosper, along with 14 others on Tuesday.

According to a post by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on its X official account on Thursday, the other individuals involved are Prosper Enahoro, Ogheneoma Udolu, Raymond Edise, Akai Philip Onochie, Osayi Kennedy Obaseki, Joshua Ngerem, Oghogho Marvelous Ekpuke, Stanley David, Jackson Shebenor, Felix Orevaoghene Emmanuel, Gideon Onaiwu, Johnson Godspower Oghenevwegba, Godspower Emmanuel Jerimaiah, and Felix Wada.

The EFCC’s Benin Zonal Command arraigned the convicts separately on a one-count charge of impersonation and possession of fraudulent documents.

“They were arrested by operatives of the Commission based on actionable intelligence on their alleged internet fraud-related activities. Upon investigation, the convicts were discovered to be involved in different variants of internet fraud. For instance, Ochuko Godfrey impersonated Richard Williams and Antonio Matthew in his attempt to defraud unsuspecting victims.”

The charge against Joshua Ngerem reads: “that you, Joshua Ngerem on or about 8th September 2023 within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did have in your possession documents which you knew or ought to have known contain a pretense and thereby committed an offense contrary to Sections 6 and 8 of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act.2006 and punishable under Section 1(3) of same Act”.

Upon their arraignment, they each entered a plea of guilty to their respective charges, resulting in their convictions and subsequent sentencing.

The judge ordered that the convicts’ mobile phones, one HP laptop, and the balances in their bank accounts, which were proceeds of crime, be forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria. The court also ordered that the bank accounts be closed.

“In a similar development, Justice S. M. Shuaibu of the Federal High Court sitting in Benin City on Tuesday convicted and sentenced Anah Trust Avwerosuo to two years imprisonment or a fine of N200,000 for his involvement in internet fraud. Avwerosuo had impersonated Henri-Alva-Rezi, an American, to defraud his victims,” the statement added.