The Edo State High Court has convicted and sentenced 25 people to various jail terms for their involvement in computer-related fraud.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) disclosed this in a statement on Friday. It said the Benin Zonal Command of the agency secured the convictions.

EFCC said Justices Efe Ikponmwonba and M. Ituseli sentenced them to jail on Wednesday and Thursday after they pleaded guilty to one-count separate charges bordering on possession of fraudulent documents.

The convicts are Joshua Osarumwense, Oziegbe Courage, Michael Osawowamen Enofe, Precious Ezomo, Favour Ezomon, Adetokunbor Oghamomwan, Amaize Victor Ohimah, Destiny Okpala, Emmanuel Benjamin, Williams Chinedu Onyeji, Michael Ugochukwu Davidson, Favour Victor, Aigbadon Nathaniel, Owas Palmer, and Kelvin Aghator.

Others are Samuel Endurance, Emmanuel Ogiehor, Oseni Usman, Success Bashorun, Hassan Usman, Omoruyi Stanley, Omoruyi Osasu, Festus David Ofuomadega, Omokaro Junior Aisosa, and Okolo Oghenenyerhovwo.

The charge against Mr Ezomo read, “that you, Favour Ezomo (m), on or about 14th March 2024, in Benin City, Edo State, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, did have in your possession documents which you knew or ought to have known contained a false pretence and thereby committed an offence contrary to sections 6 and 8 (b) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act 2006 and punishable under section 1(3)of same act.”

While the prosecution counsels, F. Jirbo, I.K Agwai, A. A. Ibrahim, and Salihu Ahmed, prayed the court to sentence the convicts, the defendants’ counsel pleaded with the court to temper justice with mercy, claiming the convicts had become remorseful for their actions.

“The trio of Oziegbe, Stanley and Davidson bagged three years’ imprisonment or a fine of N200,000.00 (two hundred thousand naira) each while the duo of Ofuomadega and Oghenenyerhovwo got two years’ imprisonment or a fine of N200,000 (two hundred thousand naira) each. The 20 others were sentenced to three years’ imprisonment or a fine of N100,000.00 (one hundred thousand naira) each.

“The judges ordered that the convicts forfeit their phones, balances in their various bank accounts being instruments and proceeds of crime and a Mercedes-Benz GLK 350 recovered from Ezomo to the Federal Government of Nigeria. All the convicts are to undertake in writing to be of good behaviour afterwards,” EFCC stated.