Justice Efe Ikponmwonba of the Edo State High Court sitting in Benin City, Monday, sentenced six internet fraudsters to jail for fraud.
The convicts are Emejom Jude Chinomso, Okolie Collins, Hezekiah Oghenekume, Musa Dauda, Akinselure Adebayo and Obafemi Oluwatosin.
They were arraigned by the Benin Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on separate one count charges bordering on impersonation, intent to defraud and making false statements to the EFCC.
The defendants pleaded guilty to the charges preferred against them by the EFCC prompting the prosecution, Francis Jirbo, I. N. Elodi and K. U. Udus to pray the court to convict and sentence them accordingly.
However, counsel to the defendants, Emmanuel Okorie, pleaded with the court to temper justice with mercy as the defendants have been remorseful for their actions.
Justice Ikponwonoba convicted and sentenced Collins and Chinomso to two years imprisonment with option of Two Hundred Thousand Naira and Three Hundred Thousand Naira fine respectively.
The duo of Adebayo and Dauda bagged one year imprisonment with an option of One Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira fine
Oghenekume was sentenced to two years imprisonment with an option of One Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira fine while Emmanuel got one year imprisonment or a fine of One Hundred Thousand Naira.