The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission convicted no less than 321 “Yahoo boys” between September and November 2023, Saturday PUNK findings revealed.
Separate convictions posted on the EFCC official Facebook page show that the online fraudsters were sentenced by courts in Kano, Lagos, Kaduna, Benin, Ilorin, Anambra, Oyo, Ogun, Port Harcourt, Ogun, Maiduguri, Makurdi, Calabar and Abuja respectively.
The latest report in November saw the conviction of two internet fraudsters, Benjamin Udeagwu and Benjamin Olamide, by the Kano State High Court for internet-related offences. The defendants were sentenced to three years in prison.
On October 13, Justice Nnamdi Dimkpa of the Federal High Court sitting in Awka, Anambra State also sentenced 25 internet fraudsters to prison after they pleaded guilty to one separate charge bordering on impersonation.
Similarly, on October 17, Justice Mahmoud Abdulgafar and Justice Adenike Akinpelu of the Kwara State High Court in Ilorin sentenced five people to various prison terms for internet-related crimes.
On October 18, Justice Efe Ikponmwonba of the Edo State High Court in Benin also sentenced 26 internet fraudsters to various prison terms.
Similarly, Justice Efe Ikponmwonba of the State High Court, Benin City, Edo State on October 24-25 sentenced 13 internet fraudsters to various prison terms.
Moreover, on October 24, Justice PI Ajoku of the Federal High Court, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, sentenced internet fraudster Kelvin Ifeanyi to one year in prison on a single charge bordering on obtaining money by false pretenses contrary to Section 1(1). 1 letter (a) the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud-Related Offenses Act 2006, punishable under Article 1 section 3 of the same act.
In vain in September, Justice O Adelaja of the Federal Capital Territory FCT High Court in Kubwa sentenced 15 internet fraudsters to various prison terms while Justice NU Sadiq of the Kaduna State High Court also sentenced one Miracle Ezeochia to two years imprisonment on one count of cheating through impersonation.
Five internet fraudsters, including a woman, were similarly convicted of internet fraud by Justice NU Sadiq of the Kaduna State High Court in Kaduna.
In the same month, Justice M. Itueli of the Edo State High Court in Benin jailed 15 internet fraudsters for internet fraud and obtaining data under false pretenses.
In response, security expert and Managing Director of Beacon Consulting Limited, Dr. Kabir Adamu expressed concern, calling on the government to address the issue of unemployment, high cost of living and other socio-economic factors that drive people to engage in online fraud.
A Federal High Court sitting in Awka, Anambra State on September 19, Justice Nnadi Dimgba sentenced 28 internet fraudsters to prison, bordering on impersonation and attempting to extort money under false pretenses. While Justice Efe Ikponmwonba of the Edo State High Court sitting in Benin on the same day, 12 Yahoo boys were sentenced to imprisonment by Justice NE Maha of the Federal High Court, Maitama, Abuja, sentenced one Christopher Simon to imprisonment. a single charge bordering on fraudulent impersonation.
Again, six internet fraudsters: Napoleon Efe Miracle, Efetobore Prosper Eghagha, Jephthah Godbless Azino, Akiefe Desmond, Chukwuyenum Kenneth Ifeakachukwu and Efetayobor Ochuko were on September 25 sentenced to various prison terms by Justice Ikponmwonba of the Edo State High Court sitting in Benin City.
While the same Justice Ikponmwonba of the same court, on September 26, sentenced two brothers – Ochuko Godfrey, Ochuko Prosper and 14 others to various terms of imprisonment on one count for impersonation and possession of false documents.
Similarly, Justices Ladiran Akintola and Kamorudeen Olawoyin of the Oyo State High Court in Ibadan sentenced 20 internet fraudsters to prison.
The perpetrators were sentenced to prison after pleading guilty to one separate charge bordering on impersonation and obtaining by false pretenses.
