On Tuesday, Justice Efe Ikponmwonba of the Edo State High Court in Benin City found four guilty of fraud and sentenced them to prison.
Raymond Oghosa Ogiemwonyi, Chata Okoro, Osagie Ogiemwonyi, and Chukwudi Uwadia are the four parties involved. Single counts of personation and retention of profits of crime were filed against each of them by the EFCC's Benin Zonal Command.
Ogiemwonyi is charged with a crime in the indictment for allegedly "knowingly taking possession of the total sum of Eight Million, Two Hundred and Seventeen Thousand, Seven Hundred and Seventy-Six Naira Eighty-Eight Kobo (N8,217,076.88) in Benin City within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court sometime between May 2022 and October 13, 2022."
Upon being charged, each defendant admitted guilt.
The defendants' attorneys, IK U Udus and I K Agwa, requested that the court find them guilty and sentence them following their plea. The defendants' attorney, Chris Otasome, claimed that the court ought to be lenient because his clients were first-time offenders who now regret their acts.
Justice Ikponmwonba found Oghosa Ogiemwonyi, Osagie Ogiemwonyi, and Chata Okoro guilty and sentenced them all to three years in prison with the option of a fine of two hundred thousand naira, while Chukwudi Uwadia received a sentence of two years in prison or a fine of two hundred thousand naira only.
The Nigerian government must get the proceeds of the crime, which include a 2010 Lexus RS350, the remaining N9,107.51 in Raymond Oghosa Ogiemwonyi's Access bank account, a laptop computer, and mobile phones.
On December 6, 2022, the Benin Zonal Command hauled Victor Omeni Njoku before Justice Ikponmwonba for arraignment on a count charge of possession of proceeds of crime.
As stated in the complaint against him, "you, Victor Omeni Njoku (M) (trading under the name and style of Adon projects NIG), did have in your possession the sum of Ten Million Naira (N10,000,000) in your bank account number 5600175843 domiciled in Fidelity Bank Plc, transferred from United Bank for Africa bank account of Aigbob," on or about December 16, 2021, in Edo State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court.
The prosecution (I K Agwai) requested that the court hold the defendant in custody until his trial was scheduled in response to his not-guilty plea during his arraignment. On the other hand, the defence lawyer contended that because the accused crime was bailable, his client should be granted bail.
Justice Ikponmwonba granted the defendant release on bail for one million naira with a guarantee for the same sum. The surety's job status must be verified by the EFCC and the court registrar.
The scheduled hearing date is January 10, 2023.