Victor EzejaEdo State High Court, sitting in Benin City on Tuesday, December 13, 2022, ordered the forfeiture of over N120 million found in the Keystone bank account of a convicted fraudster, Oghenemine Agbroko to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
Justice Efe Ikonmwonba of the Edo High Court convicted and sentenced to five years imprisonment, Agbroko and four other internet scammers.
The others are Kennedy Uwuigbe, Odiase Osariemen Christian, Collins Edobor and Ebichuwa Victory Ovie.
They were arraigned separately on one count charge bordering on retention of proceeds of crime, impersonation and unlawful possession of fraudulent documents by the Benin Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The sum of N120,284,986.28 (One Hundred and Twenty Million, Two Hundred and Eighty Four Thousand, Nine Hundred and Eight-six Naira, Twenty-eight Kobo) was found in the Keystone bank account of Agbroko. The Court ordered that the money be released to the Federal government of Nigeria through the EFCC for onward delivery to FBI, the nominal complainant.
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 six naira, Twenty Eight Kobo) in your bank account number 6033867739 domiciled in Keystone Bank Ltd knowing that same represent proceeds of your criminal conduct to wit: Cybercrime and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 17(b) of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (Establishment) Act 2004.”
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, present 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.
Victor Ezeja is a passionate journalist with six years of experience writing on economy, politics and energy. He holds a Masters degree in Mass Communication.
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