Internet fraudster bags 7-year jail term

Federal High Court sitting in PortHarcourt, Rivers State has sentenced Odinakachi Prince Onyeoziri to seven years imprisonment.

He was jailed after pleading guilty to three-count charges bordering on internet fraud contrary to Section 14 (1) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention etc) Act, 2015 and punishable under the same Section.

One of the count charges read: “That you, Odinakachi Prince Onyeoziri, and Solmyr (at large) between June, 2021 to November, 2022 within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court knowingly caused your victims loss by inputting or suppressing data in computers thereby benefitting the aggregate sum of $3000 and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 14(1) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc) Act, 2015 and punishable under the same Section”

He pleaded “guilty” to the charges when they were read to him.

In view of his guilty plea, prosecuting counsel, I. Agwu sought to review the facts of the case through the investigating officer, Abalaka Stephen, an operative of the Commission.

However, while being led in evidence, he told the court that the defendant was arrested by operatives of the Commission following a written petition by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) against the defendant for alleged internet fraud activities.

The agency said ge was thereafter apprehended sometime in February, 2024 at Owerri, Imo State.

Testifying further, he told the court that the defendant in his voluntary statement to the EFCC, confessed to being into internet fraud, spreading of computer virus, spamming and also causing his victims losses by inputting data in computers.

He also confessed benefiting an aggregate sum of $3,000 by representing himself to unsuspecting victims as different individuals

Agwu, thereafter, sought to tender in evidence, the statements, and all the items recovered from the defendant. The court thereafter admitted the evidence and were marked as exhibits.

Thereafter, Justice P.M Ayua, the trial judge, declared him guilty as charged.

Defence counsel, B. Onuoha, on the other hand prayed the court for leniency. He appealed to the court to temper justice with mercy, considering his status as a first-time offender, and remorse for his actions.

Judge Ayua sentenced him to a total of seven years in jail, with the option of paying a fine of N3 million into the Federal Republic of Nigeria’s Consolidated Revenue Account.

In addition, the judge ruled that the items recovered from the convicted, two laptops, a mobile device, Toyota Highlander with Registration: NKR 736 AA, two story buildings containing six units of two bedroom flats should be forfeited to the federal government.