*As court jails five internet fraudsters in Benin
WorldStage Newsonline (Abuja)– The Lagos Zonal Directorate 2 of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Okotie Eboh, Ikoyi, Lagos, has presented two witnesses, Sandra John Ogar and Felicia Paul, in the trial of Phil-Olumba Ifunanya Sheila before Justice D.I.Dipeolu of the Federal High Court, sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos.
Sheila was intercepted by officers of the NCS during a routine check on Tuesday, July 22, 2025 at Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos and handed over to the EFCC for further investigation and prosecution for not declaring the sums of $14,567 (Fourteen Thousand, Five Hundred and Sixty-seven United States Dollars), £1,030 (One Thousand and Thirty British Pounds Sterling) and CA$40 (Forty Canadian Dollars) in her possession.
She was subsequently arraigned in court on July 24, 2025 on a three-count charge, bordering on failure to declare the sums of $14,567, £1,030 and CA$40. She pleaded “not guilty” to the charges, thus, setting the stage for her trial.
Led in evidence by the prosecution counsel, Chineye Okezie at the resumed sitting on Wednesday, August 14, 2025, the First Prosecution Witness, PW1, Ogar, an officer of the Nigeria Customs Service, NCS told the court that the defendant was intercepted “during inward clearance from the United Kingdom,” adding that the defendant “only declared $4,000, despite being in possession of $14,567. We arrested her and handed her over to the EFCC for further investigation.”
In her own testimony, the Second Prosecution Witness, Paul, an EFCC investigating officer, confirmed receiving the defendant from the NCS, adding that she “was interrogated and offered to make a written statement.”
The prosecution counsel, thereafter, sought to tender the extra-judicial statement of the defendant in evidence, which was objected to by defence counsel, Edwin Anikwem on the allegation that “the statement was not obtained voluntarily and in the presence of a lawyer, contrary to legal requirements.”
After listening to both parties, Justice Dipeolu adjourned the matter till August 19, 2025 for further hearing and ordered that the defendant be remanded in a correctional centre.
Meanwhile, the Benin Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has secured the conviction and sentence of five internet fraudsters before Justice M. Itsueli of Edo State High Court, sitting in Benin City.
The convicts, Ayo Korede, Ogbemudia Osaretin, Harry Ehimien, Osasumwen Osahenator and Efosa Richard, were sentenced on Wednesday, August 13, 2025 following their prosecution on separate one-count charges bordering on impersonation, obtaining by false pretence, retention of proceeds of crime and possession of fraudulent documents.
The charge against Osaretin reads: “That you Ogbemudia Osaretin (m) on or about the 31st of July, 2025 within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did have in your possession, in your iPhone 14 Pro Max documents which you knew or ought to have known contained 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 the prosecution counsel, I. M. Elodi, I.K Agwai, K.Y. Bello, A. A. Ibrahim, Ibrahim Faisal 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 have become remorseful for their actions.
Justice Itsueli convicted and sentenced Korede, Osaretin, Osahenator and Richard to two years imprisonment, respectively or to pay N200,000 (Two hundred thousand Naira) fine, each, while he convicted and sentenced Ehimien to two years imprisonment or to pay N100,000 (One hundred thousand Naira) fine or do community service.
All the convicts forfeited their phones, laptop computers and balances in their respective bank accounts, being the tools and proceeds of their crimes, respectively to the federal government and further undertook in writing to be of good behaviour henceforth.
The convicts were arrested by operatives of the Benin Zonal Directorate of the EFCC, following credible intelligence that exposed their involvements in fraudulent internet activities.
