By KP Reporter
A Benin High Court has ruled in favor of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), ordering the sale of a Toyota Venza 2012 model recovered from a graduate of Biochemistry from Ambrose Ali University, Ekpoma (AAU), Osadolor Edomwonyi. Edomwonyi was charged with internet fraud.
Delivering the judgment, Justice Efe Ikponmwonba sentenced Edomwonyi to three years imprisonment and ordered the forfeiture of an iPhone 13 Promax recovered from him. Additionally, the judge directed that balances in his Opay account, Kids Bank account, and Access bank, through which he conducted his fraudulent activities, be permanently closed and the funds transferred to the Federal Government through EFCC.
Although the convict had sought a plea bargain agreement, Justice Ikponmwonba gave him an option of paying a fine of N100,000 in lieu of the prison sentence.
During the proceedings, the EFCC counsel, Mr. I. K. Agwai, stated that Edomwonyi’s actions violated sections 6 and 8 (b) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud-Related Offences Act 2006, punishable under section 1(3) of the same Act. Edomwonyi pleaded guilty to the one-count charge of possession of fraudulent documents as part of a plea bargain agreement.