The Food Basket of the Nation (Benue) State High Court in Makurdi has sentenced 21 individuals to various jail terms for their involvement in internet-related crimes.
The accused, who pleaded guilty to charges of internet fraud, were arraigned before Justices A. Ikpambese, T.A. Igoche, W.I. Kpocho, and T.A. Kume on Wednesday, June 4, 2025.
The convicts were charged by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Makurdi Zonal Directorate with offenses related to internet fraud. The list of offenders includes Mohammed Hameed Jimoh, Henry Temitope Abosede, Alonge Boluwatife Adebiyi, Micheal Ayomide Emmanuel, AbdulKareem Murtala Abiodun, Ayedele Israel, Oladele Temitope Peace, Dennis Chijoke Raphael, Chisom Evans Okonkwo, Micheal Faith Damilola, Oguntoye Elijah Timilehin, Hezekiah Ayomide Owoeye, Happiness Opeyemi Atolagbe, Ismail Abidemi Abdulwakil, Micheal Nanakaa, Dominic Felix, Jamiu Abdulwakil Muhammed, Nasirudeen Babatunde, Olarewaju Mohammed Adeshina, Hannah Yakubu, and Oludare Fatilewa Samson.
Dominic Felix was specifically charged for possessing fraudulent documents, including fake Gmail accounts, and engaging in deceptive practices that led to the advance fee fraud. The charge states that Felix created fictitious profiles of a dancer and an alleged shipping company, using these identities to deceive others.
Chisom Evans Okonkwo faced charges of impersonation and cheating. Okonkwo falsely presented himself as Chad Kroeger, a musician, and defrauded two U.S. citizens, Cynthia Spivey and Marry, of a total of N3,610,000.
After the charges were read to the accused, they all admitted to the crimes, prompting the EFCC prosecutor to request sentencing.
The court handed down various sentences: Jimoh, Abosede, Adebiyi, Emmanuel, Israel, Peace, Raphael, Babatunde, Okonkwo, Adeshina, Samson, Damilola, Elijah, Atolagbe, Abdulwakil, Timilehin, and Hannah received one-year imprisonment, with an alternative fine of N100,000 each. Felix was sentenced to two years in prison or a fine of N100,000. Abiodun and Israel were each given a two-year jail term or a fine of N100,000, while Muhammed was sentenced to 18 months with an option of N150,000.
In addition to the jail terms, the court ordered that the convicts forfeit their laptops, mobile phones, and funds in their bank accounts to the federal government.
The individuals were arrested by the EFCC operatives in Makurdi for their involvement in internet fraud and were subsequently charged and convicted in court.
