The Federal High Court sitting in Maitama, Abuja, on Friday, September 15, 2023, sentenced an internet fraudster, Ukoh Michael Odeh, to one year imprisonment on one count charge of fraud preferred against him by the Makurdi Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The convict was arrested after the Command received an intelligence report regarding the suspicious activities of some individuals suspected to be internet fraudsters in Makurdi, the Benue State.
The charge read: “That you, Ukoh Michael Odeh, between 2022 and 2023 in Makurdi, Benue State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did fail to account for the source of N6,000,000 (Six Million Naira only) in your FCMB account No: 4668442010 when you reasonably ought to have known or suspected that the said unaccounted funds formed part of the proceeds of an unlawful activity to wit: Fraud and Money laundering and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 20 (a) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022 and punishable under Section 20(b) of the same Act.”
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Odeh, however, pleaded guilty when the charge was read to him.
In view of his plea, the prosecuting counsel, M. Yusuf, prayed the court to convict him accordingly.
The presiding judge, Justice O.A. Egwuatu, convicted and sentenced the internet fraudster to one year imprisonment with an option of N300,000.
He was also ordered to forfeit N300,000 as restitution to the Federal Government through the EFCC.
The convict was equally ordered to forfeit an Infinix 7 smartphone being proceeds of criminal activity to the Federal Government.
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