The Lagos Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has apprehended 45 individuals suspected of engaging in internet fraud.
Acting on intelligence regarding the operations of an organized cybercrime syndicate in the area, the suspects were arrested on Monday, March 11, 2024, in Ikorodu, Lagos.
Recovered from the suspects at the time of their arrest were luxury vehicles, advanced mobile devices, and laptops.
Upon the conclusion of investigations, the suspects will be brought before the court for arraignment.
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In a separate development, Justices M.S Abubakar and R.J Egbe of the Federal High Court in Markurdi, Benue State, sentenced five internet fraudsters to varying terms of imprisonment.
The convictions followed their arraignment by the Markurdi Zonal Command of the EFCC.
According to a statement issued by the EFCC’s Head of Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale, the convicted individuals are Ibi Suurshter, Onazi Oche, Innocent Ochola, Teseer Mnenge, and Agbo Lawrence.
They pleaded guilty to one-count charges of internet fraud.
Justice Abubakar sentenced Suurshater to one year in prison with an option of a fine of N400,000. Oche received a similar sentence with a fine option of N600,000. Ochola was sentenced to two years’ imprisonment or a fine of N1,000,000.
Mnenge received a one-year prison term or a fine of N200,000, while Agbo was sentenced to one year in prison or a fine of N200,000 by Justice Egbe.
Additionally, the judges ordered the forfeiture of all their phones, identified as proceeds of crime, to the government.
All the convicted individuals were arrested for internet-related offenses and were subjected to individual investigations and prosecutions before being sent to the Correctional Center.
