A high court in Benin City has sentenced five men to prison terms for their roles in a series of internet fraud schemes, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) said on Wednesday.
The convictions were secured by the EFCC’s Benin Zonal Directorate before Justice M. Itsueli of the Edo State High Court. The defendants – Ayo Korede, Ogbemudia Osaretin, Harry Ehimien, Osasumwen Osahenator and Efosa Richard – faced separate one-count charges ranging from impersonation to obtaining money under false pretences, retention of criminal proceeds and possession of fraudulent documents
According to court filings, Osaretin was found in possession of fraudulent documents on his iPhone 14 Pro Max on 31 July 2025. Prosecutors said he knew, or should have known, that the documents contained false pretences. His offence was charged under Sections 6 and 8 of Nigeria’s Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act 2006, and is punishable under Section 1(3) of the same Act.
Each defendant entered a guilty plea. EFCC prosecutors, including I.M. Elodi, I.K. Agwai, K.Y. Bello, A.A. Ibrahim, Ibrahim Faisal and M.S. Dahiru, urged the court to convict and sentence the men in line with the charges. Defence lawyers appealed for leniency, stressing that their clients were remorseful and willing to turn away from crime.
Justice Itsueli sentenced Korede, Osaretin, Osahenator and Richard to two years in prison or an option of a 200,000 naira (£100) fine each. Ehimien received a similar custodial term but was offered the alternative of paying a 100,000 naira fine or undertaking community service.
In addition to the prison terms and fines, the court ordered the forfeiture of mobile phones, laptop computers and funds held in the defendants’ bank accounts to the federal government. These items, investigators said, were the tools and proceeds of the crimes. Each man also signed a written undertaking to maintain good behaviour.
The EFCC said the arrests followed credible intelligence linking the five to online scams. Such operations often involve impersonating individuals or companies, luring victims into fraudulent schemes, and transferring illicit gains through various channels.
Nigeria’s anti-graft agency has intensified its clampdown on so-called “Yahoo boys” – a colloquial term for cyber fraudsters – amid rising concerns over the impact of such crimes on the country’s international reputation and its financial systems.
The commission urged young Nigerians to embrace lawful enterprises and warned that those engaging in internet-based fraud risk arrest, prosecution and the permanent loss of their assets.
