Edo Court Sends 15 Yahoo Boys to Prison for Internet Fraud
A group of 15 internet fraudsters, also known as Yahoo Boys, have been convicted and sentenced to various terms of imprisonment by an Edo State High Court in Benin City.
The court, presided by Justice M. Itsueli, found the Yahoo Boys guilty of offences related to internet fraud and obtaining money by false pretences.
The Yahoo Boys are Seth Chukwumah, Hart James Okoh, Berta Aghogho Akpoveta, Obinna Okoh Patrick, Ugwoke Chinecherem Johnson and Akpovona –Momoh Malcolm Oghenekome.
Others include Frank Efe Okeoghene, Okpidi Oghenerukevwe, Prince Tamunotonye Obinna, Jeffrey Nwose, Louis Victory Emuerhime, Isoso Precious, Tsebi Princewill, Dafinone Osuma and Oyinkepreye Anderson.
They were arraigned on separate one-count charges of fraudulent impersonation and possession of fraudulent documents by the Benin Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). The charges were filed between September 11 and 13, 2023.
One of the charges reads: “that you, Tsebi Princewill sometimes between 2022 to 2023 in Benin City, Edo State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did with intent to defraud represent yourself to be Tony Richards, 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 (as applicable in Edo State) 1976.”
The Yahoo Boys pleaded guilty to their respective charges when they were arraigned. The prosecution counsel – F.A.Jirbo, I.M. Elodi, Ibrahim Faisal, Salihu Ahmed and T.Y Bello – urged the court to convict and sentence them accordingly. The defence counsel, however, appealed to the court for leniency.
Justice Itsueli delivered his judgment on September 14, 2023. He convicted and sentenced Johnson and Obinna to six months imprisonment or a fine of N500,000 each.
Chukwumah got two years imprisonment with an option of a fine of N500,000. Osuma and Anderson were sentenced to two years imprisonment each or a fine of N300,000. Okoh, Akpoveta, Patrick, Oghenekome, Oghenerukevwe, Emuerhime, Precious, Nwose, and Princewill were given three years imprisonment each or a fine of N500,000. Okeoghene received three years imprisonment or a fine of N1 million.
The judge also ordered the Yahoo Boys to forfeit various items that they acquired through their fraudulent activities to the Federal Government through the EFCC. These items include one blue Lexus RX 350; one Mercedes Benz GLK 430, 2017 model; one Red Mercedes Benz GLK 2014 model; one black Lexus NX 300, 2020 model; one Silver Lexus RX 350 2011 model; as well as mobile phones and laptops.
Moreover, the judge ruled that the Yahoo Boys’ bank accounts in different banks used for receiving money from their victims be permanently frozen and the funds therein be forfeited to the Federal Government.
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