By Osahon Osahon
Justice Efe Ikponmwonba of a Benin City High Court, Edo State, on Monday sentenced three internet fraudsters, Sunday Osamulu , Faithful Omagbeni and Ugiagbe Kennedy Hakeem, to various jail terms.
They were arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Benin Zonal Command, on a one-count charge each bordering on fraudulent impersonation.
According to a statement by the Head, Media & Publicity of the anti-graft agency, Wilson Uwujaren, the convicts, Hakeem, Osamulu and Omagbeni, were arraigned for offences bordering on impersonation and obtaining by false pretences.
The trio were said to have fraudulently impersonated the identities of foreign nationals to defraud unsuspecting victims.
The charge against Omagbemi reads: “that you Faithful Omagbeni (a.k.a Wanf Wei) sometime in 2020 at Benin City , Edo State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did with intent to defraud represent yourself to be Wang Wei, a Chinese, by sending documents to unsuspecting ladies abroad through the internet which identity you claim to be your own and you thereby committed an offence contrary to section 484 of the Criminal Code Laws CA, 48 Laws of Bendel State of Nigeria (as applicable in Edo State) 1976”.
The charge against Hakeem reads: “That you Ugiagbe Kennedy Hakeem (a.k.a Ray Williams) between 2020 and 2021, in Benin within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did fraudulently personate the identity of one Ray Williams, an American by operating a WhatsApp Business account with the intent to obtain money from one Gaby, a white lady and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Sec 484 of the Criminal Code, Cap 48 Laws of Bendel State of Nigeria (as applicable in Edo State) 1976.”
The three defendants pleaded guilty to the charge when it was read to them.
In view of their pleas, the prosecution counsel, I.M. Elody and K.U. Udus, urged the court to convict and sentence the defendants.
Justice Ikponmwonba thereafter convicted and sentenced Hakeem to three years imprisonment or a fine of N200, 000, while Osamulu and Omagbeni bagged two years imprisonment each with an option of N200, 000 as fine.
