The Edo State High Court sitting in Benin City has convicted and sentenced two brothers, Teddy Hart and Rooney Hart, along with 10 others, for offences related to internet fraud.
Justice M. Itsueli delivered the judgment on Thursday following separate one-count charges filed against the convicts by the Benin Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The other convicts are Thompson Ogbeide, Iria Blessed, Igbinomwania Godspower, Ojiezele Felix, Akhigbe Gideon, Osazuwa Oghomwen, Agbonifo Iziegbe, Lucky Osagie, Osemwegie Michael, and Victor Ojeisemi.
They were arraigned on charges bordering on advance fee fraud, obtaining by false pretence, possession of fraudulent documents, and retention of proceeds of crime. All the defendants pleaded guilty.
Prosecution counsel, led by I.M. Elodi and five others, urged the court to convict them accordingly, while defence lawyers pleaded for leniency on grounds of remorse.
Justice Itsueli sentenced Felix, Iziegbe, and Osagie to two years’ imprisonment each or a fine of ₦300,000, while Ogbeide, Blessed, Godspower, Gideon, Michael, and Oghomwen received two years’ imprisonment each or a fine of ₦200,000.
The Hart brothers were each sentenced to two years’ imprisonment or a fine of ₦350,000, while Ojeisemi received two years’ imprisonment or a fine of ₦150,000.
The court also ordered the forfeiture of mobile phones, laptops, and funds in their bank accounts to the Federal Government, describing them as tools and proceeds of crime. Each convict further signed an undertaking to be of good behaviour.
According to the EFCC, their arrest followed credible intelligence linking them to fraudulent internet activities.