Court Jails 12 Yahoo Boys In Benin City

Justice Efe Ikponmwonba of Edo State High Court sitting in Benin City on Tuesday, May 16, 2023, convicted and sentenced 12 internet fraudsters to prison.

Those convicted are Falodun Samuel, Edward Omoruyi, Earnest Osazemwinde, Temitayo Oluwaseyi Ogunlana, Iweriebo Raphael Emmy and Philip Ayodeji Kolawale.

Others are Faith Ilemobayo, Amiohu Paul, Imokhai Dickson, Peter Paul Philip, Roland Junior and Arebu Julius.

They were arraigned separately by the Benin Zonal Command of the EFCC on one count charge bordering on possession of fraudulent documents and unlawful retention of proceeds of crime.

The charge against Omoruyi reads: “that you, Edward Omoruyi on or about  16th  November ,2022 in Benin, Edo State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court  did take possession of the sum total  of N1,400,000 knowing that same represent proceeds of  Ernest Osazemwinde’s ( your chairman) criminal conduct to wit: Cybercrime and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under section 17(b) of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (Establishment ) Act 2004”.

The charge against Falodun reads: “that you, Falodun Samuel Timilehin sometime between 2019 to 2021 in Benin , Edo State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did take possession of the sum total of N40,392,308:90 knowing that same represent proceeds of Moridi Victor’s ( your chairman) criminal conduct to wit: Cybercrime and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 17(b) of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (Establishment ) Act 2004”

Upon arraignment, all the defendants pleaded guilty to their respective charges, prompting the prosecution counsel, K.U.Udus, I.K. Agwai and K.Y. Bello to pray the court to convict and sentence the defendants accordingly. However, counsel to the defendants pleaded with the court to temper justice with mercy as they were first time offenders who have become remorseful for their actions.

Justice Ikponmwonba convicted and sentenced Samuel, Omoruyi, Osazemwinde, Emmy, Ilemobayo,  Dickson, Philip, Julius and Junior to three years imprisonment with an option of Two Hundred Thousand Naira fine.

Kolawale and Ogunlana were sentenced to two years imprisonment or a fine of two hundred thousand naira while Paul bagged three years imprisonment or a fine of One Hundred Thousand Naira only.

The judge ordered that the sum of N1,400,000 recovered from Osazemwinde; one black Lexus IS 250, Mercedes Benz 250, one Lexus ES350, and  Laptop,  recovered from Falodun Samuel and Edward Omoruyi’s bank account be forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria.