7 fraudsters forfeit hotel, N232.3m, others

The Federal High Court sitting in Makurdi, the capital of Benue State, has ordered the forfeiture to the federal government, the sum of N232,396,714.00, a hotel, and the sum of $4,977 recovered from seven fraudsters.

The forfeiture followed the conviction and sentencing of the fraudsters, prosecuted on separate one-count charges bordering on criminal impersonation, money laundering, cybercrime, and obtaining by false pretence by the Makurdi Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC)

The convicts are Tamaraudeinyefa Shedrack Brakekebebe, Godday Conference Brakekebebe, Terhemba Josiah Asagh, Nyiter Avalumun Elijah, Ahmed Alabi Akindele, Kennedy Torbem Ayanger, and Hwande Aondooungwa James.

The charge against Brakekebebe read: “That you Tamaraudeinyefa Shedrack Brakebebe ‘M’ (24 years old) in Makurdi, Benue State, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did retain the sum  of N64,762,169.00 in your Access Bank Account Number 0106661087 and the sum of N102,750,246.00 in your Zenith Bank Account number 2650121852, which you reasonably knew to be proceeds of unlawful Act, to wit; Cybercrime and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 18(2)(d) of the Money Laundering (prohibition and Prevention etc) Act 2022 and punishable under Section 18(3)of the same Section.

They all pleaded “guilty” to their charges when they were read to them, prompting the review of their cases by prosecuting counsel M.Yusuf, A.S.Idris, A.Gazali K.T.Sunday, and Imadifon Igbinidu, who urged the court to convict and sentence them accordingly.

After listening to prosecution and defence counsel, Justice M.S. Abubakar convicted and sentenced Tamaraudeinyefa Brakekebebe to one year imprisonment or to pay N500,000 fine.

In addition, he forfeited the sum of  N102,750,246 found in bank account and the sum of N64,762,169 to the federal government.

Godday Brakekebebe was convicted and sentenced to three years imprisonment with a fine option of N500,000.

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He also forfeited the sum of N56,633,246 and another sum of N200,929 to the federal government.

Asagh was convicted and sentenced to one year imprisonment or to pay N1,500,000 fine.

In addition, he forfeited his Century Crip Inn Hotel in Gboko North LGA of Benue State and a Mercedes-Benz E350 4Matic to the federal government.

Elijah bagged one year imprisonment or to pay N500,000 fine.

In addition, he is to restitute the sum of N10 million to his victim through the EFCC recovery account and forfeit a Mercedes-Benz GLE to the federal government.

Akindele was convicted and sentenced to two years imprisonment with a fine option of N100,000.

In addition, he is to restitute the sum of N1,645,000 to his victim.

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Ayanger was convicted and sentenced to one year imprisonment with a fine option of N100,000.

He was also ordered to restitute N500,000 to his victim, while James was convicted and sentenced to three years imprisonment or to pay N500,000 fine.

James equally forfeited the sum of N8,050,124 and $4977 to the federal government.

The Star