An high court sitting in Benin-City, Edo state has sentenced Nnamdi Theo-Joseph Duru and Israel Oluwaseun Ayoomoni to eight years imprisonment for internet- related fraud.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Benin Zonal Command, charged Duru and Ayoomoni to court.
The duo were convicted, after pleading guilty to one- count separate charge, bordering on, retention of proceeds of criminal conduct and possession of documents containing false pretense.
“That you Nnamdi Theo-Joseph Duru sometimes between 1st January, 2017 to November, 2021 in Edo State within the jurisdiction of this honourable court did retain the aggregate sum of N8,000,432,22 in your Access Bank Account Number:0090793423 knowing that same represent proceeds of your criminal conduct to wit’ Cybercrime and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 17(a) of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (Establishment ) Act 2004 and punishable under Section 17(b) of the same Act,” the charge reads.
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While delivering judgement, Justice M. Itsueli convicted and sentenced Duru to five years imprisonment, with an option of fine of N500,000 ( Five Hundred Thousand Naira) while Ayoomoni bagged three years imprisonment or a fine of N200,000 ( Two Hundred Thousand Naira).
The judge also ordered Duru to forfeit the sum of $34,000 , recovered from him in the course of investigation, to the Federal Bureau of Investigation as restitution to the victim while Ayoomoni also forfeited the sum of N23,742.36 in his Guaranty Bank account and the sum of N20,022.10 in his Polaris Bank account and the sum of $25 which were recovered from him as proceeds of crime to the Federal Government of Nigeria.
Itsueli also asked that Duru forfeits his phone to the government while the bank accounts are closed.
Based on their pleas, prosecution counsel, K.Y. Bello, prayed the court to convict and sentence them accordingly. However, counsel to the defendants, Pascal Ugbome and Osaro Uyi prayed the court to temper justice with mercy, as the defendants had shown remorse for their actions.