CRIME: CONVICTED INTERNET FRAUDSTER FORFEITS N120M TO FBI
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DAMILOLA LAWRENCE
Justice Efe Ikponmwonba of the Edo State High Court in Benin City on Tuesday, December 13, 2022, issued an order for the forfeiture of N120,284,986.28 (One Hundred and Twenty Million, Two Hundred Eighty-four Thousand, Nine Hundred and Eighty-six Naira, Twenty-Eight Kobo) found in the Keystone bank account of a convicted fraudster, Oghenemine Agbroko, to the Federal Government of Nigeria, through the EFCC to the nominal complainant, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, FBI.
However, Agbroko was one of five internet scammers who were found guilty and given five years in prison by Justice Ikonmwonba for fraud. The others are Kennedy Uwuigbe, Collins Edobor, Ebichuwa Victory Ovie, and Odiase Osariemen Christian.
The Benin Zonal Command of the EFCC charged them separately on a single count of retention of proceeds of crime, personation, and unlawful possession of fraudulent documents.
The charge against Agbroko reads: “That you, Jeffrey Oghenemine Agbroko (m), on or about 12th November, 2021 in Edo State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did retain the sum of N120,284,986.28 (One Hundred and Twenty Million, Two Hundred and Eighty-Four Thousand, Nine Hundred and Eighty-Four Thousand, Nine Hundred and Eighty-Four Thousand, Nine Hundred and Eighty-Four Thousand, Nine Hundred and Eighty-Four.
The charge against Kennedy Uwuigbe reads: “that you, Kennedy Uwuigbe sometimes between 2017 to 4th August, 2022 in Benin City, Edo State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did with intent to defraud represent yourself to be Luka Romero, a white man and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 484 of the Criminal Code Law Cap 48, Laws of Bendel State of Nigeria (As applicable in Edo State) 1976.
Upon arraignment, the defendants pleaded guilty to their respective charge.
In view of their plea, the prosecution counsel, Francis.A.Jirbo, F.O. Dibang and I.K. Agwai prayed the court to convict and sentenced them accordingly. However, the defence counsel, Pascal Ugbome, pleaded with the Court to temper justice with mercy as the defendants were first-time offenders who have become remorseful for their actions.
Justice Ikponmwonba convicted and sentenced Agbroko and Collins Edobor to five years in imprisonment with an option of Two Hundred Thousand Naira fine each.
The trio Uwuigbe, Christian and Ovie bagged three years imprisonment or a fine of Two Hundred Thousand Naira each.
The quartet of Uwuigbe, Christian, Edobor and Ovie are to forfeit the aggregate sum of N12,322.476.72 and $954.02 USD worth of Bitcoin, two Mercedes Benz cars, a Toyota Camry car, $2000USD and mobile phones , all being proceeds and instruments of crime to the Federal Government of Nigeria through the EFCC.
The court also ordered that the bank accounts used in committing the crime be closed.
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