NYSC MEMBER GETS 8 MONTHS JAIL TERM FOR INTERNET FRAUD

A Lagos High Court in Ikeja on Tuesday sentenced a member of the
National Youths Service Corps (NYSC), Ibok Benneth, to eight months
imprisonment for attempting to commit internet fraud.


30-year-old Benneth who is currently undertaking his one-year
mandatory service at Afikpo Local Government Council in EbonyiState
was convicted by Justice Olabisi Akinlade after he pleaded guilty to
the offence on arraignment.


News Agency of Nigeria, NAN reports he hadentered into a plea bargain
agreement with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on
the advice of his counsel, Mrs. I. Njoku.


NAN reports that Benneth was arraigned by the EFCC on 10 counts
bordering on forgery and possession of fraudulent document. TheEFCC
counsel, Mrs. Atinuke Daramola said the commission had on July 2
received a petitionfrom one Mr. Sam Ohuabunwa claiming that some
unknown persons had hacked his e-mail account.


"The petitioner said the persons started requesting his mail contacts
to send money into a certain Zenith Bank account no: 2080306452, on
his behalf," Daramola said.


The counsel said that investigations by EFCC operatives at the bank
revealed that the account was owned by Benneth,
She said; "This led to his arrest at his residence located at Plot 2,
Pilot Crescent off Bode Thomas, Surulere, Lagos.
"A search was conducted in his apartment and several forged documents
relating to Union Bank Plc and National Drug Law Enforcement Agency
(NDLEA) were found in his possession.


"Other correspondence via e-mail to some foreigners, where he claimed
to have won a fictitious European Winning Lottery Programme, was also
found in his laptop".


Daramola said he had admitted to the EFCC operatives in a statement
that he owned the Zenith Bank account and was also involved in other
fraudulent activities on the internet.


She said his offences contravened Sections 6, 8 (b) and 1(3) of the
Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, Laws of the
Federation of Nigeria
In her judgment, Akinlade said the sentence would commence from August
28 when he was arrested by the police, adding that Benneth had no
justification for engaging ininternet fraud, stressing that he should
have thought of the consequences of his actions.


"At the age of 30, some of your age mates are married and already
managers with serious responsibilities in some big companies, while
you are still serving.
"Now you have been convicted, which will be reflected in your record.
You should have thought of the consequences before engaging in
fraudulent activities.
"You better go and change because if you go back to fraud, the EFCC
will catch you again and the law will catch up with you," Akinlade
said.