Lucky, Irabor, six other yahoo boys sent to prison in Benin

A 21-year-old internet fraudster, Kennedy Irabor Osasogie, along with seven other individuals, faced conviction and sentencing in Benin City. Justice M. Itsueli of the Edo State High Court handed down the verdict on Thursday, August 3, 2023.

Osasogie was apprehended following a petition by a German citizen, Antje Kdla, who accused him of defrauding her of substantial amounts of money. After an investigation by the EFCC, the defendant was found guilty, and the other seven were arrested based on intelligence related to their illegal activities.

Each of the defendants pleaded guilty to the charges against them, leading the prosecution counsel to request their conviction and appropriate sentencing. The defense counsel, however, pleaded for leniency, emphasizing that the defendants were first-time offenders who expressed remorse for their actions.

Justice Itsueli sentenced Osasogie to three years in prison with an option to pay a Three Hundred Thousand Naira fine. Luma, Oneh, Chukwudi, and Kingsley were each sentenced to three years in prison with the option of a Two Hundred Thousand Naira fine. Osawerinde and Amenze received a two-year prison sentence or a Two Hundred Thousand Naira fine. Otailegbe was sentenced to one month imprisonment with an option to pay Two Hundred Thousand Naira.

Additionally, the court ordered that the €7,040 recovered from Osasogie during the investigation be forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria through the EFCC, to be delivered to the victim, Antje KDLA, via the German Embassy in Nigeria. The judge further ruled that one Toyota Highlander, one black Toyota Venza, and the balance in the convicts’ Nigerian bank accounts, as well as their phones and laptops, which were proceeds of the crime, be forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria.

The charge against Osasogie revolved around the possession and use of a sum of N5,988,480.00, transferred into his bank account as proceeds of his criminal activities, specifically cybercrime. This act was in violation of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (Establishment) Act 2004, and it was punishable under section 17(b) of the same Act.