Justices M.S. Abubakar and A. Onoja of the Federal High Court Makurdi and M.I. Ikpambese of the Benue State High Court, Makurdi, convicted and sentenced thirty-two (32) individuals for various internet fraud offenses.
The sentences were handed down on Wednesday, June 12, 2024, following guilty pleas by the defendants, who faced one-count charges brought by the Makurdi Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The convicted individuals are Eruka Vandefan Ephraim, Chukwudi Daniel Ifeanyi, Akahar Andrew Tsumga, Ugochukwu Stephen Ikenna, Atu Sunday, Nyior Benjamin Saakula, Atsaregh Terkuma Benedict, Kaun Jeremiah, Ochigbo Cletus, Tule Bemba Joseph, Jude Terhemba, Paul Meraba Torkuma, Mathias Ebute, Terungwa Terna Raphael, Shaahu Abraham Atuur, Justine Usar Idyekaa, Solomon Adejo, John Kator Wanger, Abubakar Sadiq Adejo, Mohammed Habib Adejo, Ule Francis Terlumun, Nyior David, Cynic Isaac, Adadu Samson Ogaba, Abraham Ombugadu Luka, Onah Oboh Joseph, Joseph Ulayi Akagiaobe, Agennah Franklyn, Ochigo Cletus, Tule Benba Joseph, Hembafan Samuel Tarhembe, and Jude Terhemba.
Among the charges, Atu Sunday was accused of fraudulently inducing Intelligent Lab Limited in April 2022 by requesting multiple chargebacks on a successful transaction processed through their Point of Sale (POS) system. This fraudulent action led to a wrongful financial loss for the company. His charge read: “That you, Atu Sunday sometime in April 2022 in Benue State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable court dishonestly induced Intelligent Lab Limited by requesting for multiple chargebacks of a successful transaction done on their Point Of Sale (POS), a transaction you knew was false, causing her wrongful loss through your deceit and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 322 of the Penal Code (CAP) 124 Laws of Benue State and punishable under the same Law.”
Upon reading the charges, all defendants entered guilty pleas. Consequently, EFCC counsels M. Yusuf, A. S. Idris, and A. Gazali urged the courts to convict and sentence the accused in line with their confessions.
Sentences varied among the convicts. Eruka Vandefan Ephraim, Akaahar Andrew Tsumga, Ugochukwu Stephen Ikenna, and Atu Sunday were each sentenced to one year in prison, with the option of a N100,000 fine. In contrast, Chukwudi Daniel received a one-year prison term but had the option to pay a more substantial fine of N500,000.
“Tule Peter Sesugh and Inalegwu James bageed two years imprisonment or the sum of N100,000.00. The judges further ordered the convicts to forfeit all devices recovered from them being proceeds of crime to the Federal Government of Nigeria. All the convicts were arrested by operatives of the EFCC for internet offences and were jailed.”
