FROM IKHILI EBALU, BENIN CITY
Justice Mary Itsueli of the Edo State High Court sitting in Benin City on Friday convicted and sentenced to jail, two brothers, Teddy Hart and Rooney Hart, and 10 others for fraud.
According to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, the 10 other convicts are Thompson Ogbeide, Iria Blessed, Igbinomwania Godspower, Ojiezele Felix, Akhigbe Gideon, Osazuwa Oghomwen, Agbonifo Iziegbe, Lucky Osagie, Osemwegie Michael and Victor Ojeisemi.
The convicts were prosecuted by the Benin Zonal Directorate of the EFCC on separate one-count charges for obtaining by false pretence, retention of proceeds of crime and possession of fraudulent documents.
The charge against Teddy Hart reads: “That you Teddy Ovbokhan Hart (m) on or about August 15 within the jurisdiction of this court did have in your possession, on your iPhone 12 with IMEI Number 359879850558150, documents which you knew or ought to have known contained 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 the charge, following which the prosecution counsels, I. M Elodi, K.Y Bello, I. K Agwai, Ibrahim Faisal, M. S Dahiru and Ibrahim Al-Amin asked the court to convict and sentence them accordingly.
The defence counsel pleaded with the court to temper justice with mercy, stating that they have become remorseful of their actions.
The judge, however, convicted and sentenced Ogbeide, Blessed, Godspower, Gideon, Michael and Oghomwen to two years imprisonment, each, or to pay N200,000 fine, respectively.
While Teddy and Rooney Hart were sentenced to two years imprisonment or to pay a fine of N350,000 each, the judge convicted and sentenced Ojeisemi to two years imprisonment or to pay N150,000.
“All the convicts forfeited their mobile phones and laptops, being the tools of their crimes and money found in their respective bank accounts, being the proceeds of their crimes, to the federal government and undertook in writing to be of good behaviour henceforth.
“The convicts journey to jail began with their arrest by operatives of Benin Zonal Directorate, following credible intelligence that exposed their fraudulent internet activities,” the judge ruled.
