WorldStage Newsonline– Justice D.I.Dipeolu of the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos, on Tuesday, August 26, 2025, convicted and sentenced one Innocent Owie Ochuko to three months imprisonment for internet fraud.
He was arraigned on Tuesday, August 26, 2025 on a one-count charge bordering on cybercrime.
The charge reads: “That you, Innocent Owie Ochuko, on or about the 20th June, 2025 in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, and with intent to gain advantage, held out yourself as “Hibrave Thugger” with an email: hibravethugger@gmail.com, through Google Account profile to unsuspecting victims, wherein you gained financial benefit to yourself through Bitcoin Investment Scam, and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 22(2)(b) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition Prevention etc.) Act, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2015.”
He pleaded “guilty” to the charge when it was read to him.
In view of his plea, prosecution counsel, I.G. Akhanolu called on Leonard Ayokor, an operative of the EFCC, to review the facts of the case .
In his review, Ayokor stated that “the defendant confessed his involvement in a Bitcoin investment scam. He also confessed that he assumed the fictitious name, Exxes, from the United States of America and that he benefited the sum of $1,000 AUD. During investigations, an iPhone 15 and a Samsung S9 were recovered from him. He has restituted the sum of N300,000 (Three Hundred Thousand Naira) through Zenith Bank manager’s cheque.”
Justice Dipeolu, in view of the defendant’s plea and evidence tendered by the prosecution, found him guilty and also convicted him. He also sentenced him to three months imprisonment ,with an option of a N700,000 fine.
He equally ordered that the mobile devices recovered from him as well as the N300,000 manager’s cheque issued as restitution be forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria.
The convict’s journey to the Correctional Centre began when he was arrested on June 20, 2025 at County Estate, Lekki, Lagos in a sting operation by operatives of the Lagos Zonal Directorate 2 of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), for being involved in internet fraud. He was charged to court and jailed.
In Edo
In a related development, five internet fraudsters, James Joseph, Osamuyimen Okunbor, Osabuochien Aisogbonbu Francis, Mathew Odosa Obedience and Samuel Friday were on Monday August 25, 2025 convicted and jailed by Justice M. Itsueli of Edo State High Court, sitting in Benin City.
They were prosecuted by the Benin Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC on separate one-count charges, bordering on obtaining by false pretence, retention of proceeds of crime and possession of fraudulent documents.
The charge against Francis reads: “That you Osabuochien Aisogbonbu Francis (m) on or about the 15th of August, 2025 within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did have in your possession, on your iPhone Xs Max with IMEI Number 358744092932905, documents which you knew or ought to have known contain a false pretence and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 6 and 8 of the Advance Fee Fraud and other Fraud Related Offences Act 2006 and punishable under Section 1(3) of the same Act.”
They all pleaded “guilty” to their charge, following which prosecution counsel, K. Y. Bello and M.S Dahiru prayed the court to convict and sentence them accordingly, while the defence counsel pleaded with the court to temper justice with mercy, stating that they were first time offenders who have become remorseful for their actions.
Justice Itsueli convicted and sentenced each of them to two years imprisonment or to pay N300, 000 (Three hundred Thousand Naira) fine, respectively. In addition,
they forfeited their mobile phones and laptop computers, being the tools of their crimes and money discovered in their respective bank accounts, being the proceeds of their crime to the federal government and further undertook in writing to be of good behaviour going forward.
The convicts’ journey to jail began with their arrest by operatives of the Benin Zonal Directorate of the EFCC in a sting operation that followed credible intelligence that exposed their involvements in fraudulent internet activities.
