The managing director of Damaste Royal Engineering Services Nigeria Limited and Locus Classicus Trade & Investment Limited respectively were on Tuesday, April 12, 2022 convicted and sentenced to five years imprisonment each by Justice Efe Ikponmwonba of the Edo State High Court sitting in Benin City.
The duo were arraigned on separate one count charges of fraud by the Benin Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission. The defendants, as managing director and signatory to the Zenith bank accounts of Demaste Royal Engineering Services Limited and Locus Classicus Trade and Investment Limited, retained the aggregate sum of N657,350, 000.00 and N51,820,000.00 respectively; proceeds of Efe Martins Oserenwindamwens criminal conduct.
The charge against Ibrahim Babangida Haruna reads: “that you Ibrahim Babangida Haruna being the managing director and signatory to the Zenith Bank account of Demaste Royal Engineering Services Limited sometimes between 2nd April to 25th May, 2020 in Edo State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did retain the aggregate sum of N 657,350,000.00 (Six Hundred and Fifty-seven Million, Three Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira) knowing that same represent proceeds of Efe Martins Osarenwindamwen’s criminal conduct to wit: cybercrime and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 17(a) of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (Establishment ) Act 2004 and punishable under section 17(6) of same Act”.
The charge against Christopher Robert reads: “that you Christopher Robert being the managing director and signatory to Zenith Bank account of Locus Classicus Trade and Investment limited sometime between 4th and 5th day of June, 2020 in Edo State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did retain the aggregate sum of N51,820,000.00(Fifty One Million, Eight Hundred and Twenty Thousand Naira) knowing that same represent proceed of Efe Martins Osarewindamwen’s criminal conduct to wit: Cybercrime and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 17(a) of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (Establishment ) Act 2004 and punishable under section 17(b) of the same Act.”
Haruna and Robert pleaded guilty to the charge preferred against them by the EFCC prompting the prosecution counsel, Francis, A, Jirbo to pray the court to convict and sentence them accordingly.
Justice Ikponmwonba convicted and sentenced Haruna and Robert to five years imprisonment with an option of Five Hundred Thousand Naira fine. The defendants are to undertake in writing to be of good behaviour henceforth.
In the same vein, four internet fraudsters, Iyamu Christian Iyayi, Destiny Etsu, Omosieve Greater and Ehiguese Odiase were convicted and sentenced to prison by Justice Ikponmwonba for personation and obtaining by false pretence. Etsu and Iyayi bagged three years imprisonment or a fine of N300,000 while the duo of Greater and Odiase bagged two years imprisonment or a fine of N200,000 and N150,000 respectively.
The quartet are to forfeit their phones to the Federal Government of Nigeria and to undertake in writing to be of good behaviour henceforth.
