Court Convicts 41 Internet Fraudsters.

Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has secured the conviction and sentencing of 41 internet fraudsters to one-year imprisonment, each, with an option of fine of N100,000.00, while, the judgment was handed down by Federal High Court in Onitsha, Anambra State, presided over by Justices S. M Shuaibu and HauwaInuwa.

EFCC, in a post on its official X handle said, the convicts were jailed after they pleaded guilty to one-count separate charges bordering on obtaining by false pretense, possession of fraudulent documents, personation and aiding in committing an offence.

Their arraignment was brought by the Enugu Zonal Command of the EFCC, while, all 41 defendants pleaded “guilty” when their charges were read to them separately, and in view of their pleas, Michael Ikechukwu Ani, counsel to the commission, prayed the court to convict and sentence them accordingly.

However, defence counsel, Wisdom Ogbonna, Bernard Okeke, James Nwatarali and Arinze Anyigo pleaded the court for leniency and to temper justice with mercy in sentencing their clients, adding that they have shown enough remorse for their actions, while, Justice Inuwa, on Thursday, May 2 2024, convicted and sentenced 27 of the convicts, while the rest 14 were convicted on Friday, May 3, 2024.

The Justices also ordered that, the convicts should be involved in community service in line with Section 462 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act and ordered that items recovered from them, which include their mobile phones and laptops, and be auctioned through the EFCC and proceeds paid into the Treasury Single Account.