By Ken Chiwendu
Justice A. Itsueli of Edo State High Court sitting in Benin City on Wednesday, August 27,2025 convicted and sentenced Blessing Osakporlor Zabayo, Divine Eromosele Aisuegbehien, Daniel Destiny Adeniyi, Uche Destiny and Saturday Michael Idongesit to various jail terms for fraud.
They were prosecuted by the Benin Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on separate one-count charges, bordering on advance fee fraud, obtaining by false pretence, retention of proceeds of crime and possession of fraudulent documents.
The charge against Aisuegbehien reads: “That you Divine Eromosele Aisuegbehien (m) on or about the 15th of August, 2025 within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did have in your possession, on your iPhone 12 Pro, with IMEI Number 356689111827978, documents which you knew or ought to have known contained a false pretence and thereby committed an offence, contrary to Section 6 and 8 of the Advance Fee Fraud and other Fraud Related Offences Act 2006 and punishable under Section 1(3) of the same Act.”
They all pleaded “guilty” to their charges, prompting the prosecution counsel, I.K Agwai, Ibrahim Faisal, M.S Dahiru and Ibrahim Al-Amin to pray the court to convict and sentence them accordingly, while the defence counsel pleaded with the court to temper justice with mercy, stating that they have become remorseful for their actions.
Justice Itsueli convicted and sentenced Aisuegbehien, Zabayor and Adeniyi to two years imprisonment, respectively or to pay N300, 000 (Three Hundred Thousand Naira) fine, respectively. Destiny and Idongesit also bagged two years imprisonment, each or to pay N200, 000 (Two hundred Thousand Naira) fine, respectively.
All the convicts forfeited their mobile phones and laptop computers, being the tools of their crimes and money found in their respective bank accounts, being the proceeds of crimes to the federal government and undertook in writing to be of good behaviour henceforth.
Their journey to jail began with their arrest by operatives of the Benin Zonal Directorate of the EFCC, following credible intelligence that exposed their involvement in fraudulent internet activities.
·
