A recent court verdict saw Odinakachi Prince Onyeoziri, a defendant in a cybercrime case, sentenced to seven years imprisonment alongside a fine of Three Million Naira (N3,000,000.00) or its equivalent.
Onyeoziri pleaded guilty to three-count charges related to internet fraud, as stipulated in Section 14(1) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention etc) Act, 2015. The charges were brought against him for his involvement in fraudulent activities between June 2021 and November 2022, resulting in a financial loss of $3000 (Three thousand United States Dollars) to his victims.
During the trial, prosecuting counsel I. Agwu presented evidence detailing Onyeoziri's arrest by operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) following a petition from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) regarding his alleged internet fraud activities. The defendant, in his voluntary statement to the EFCC, confessed to engaging in various fraudulent activities, including spreading computer viruses, spamming, and causing financial losses to victims by manipulating computer data.
Agwu submitted the statements and recovered items as evidence, which the court admitted and marked as exhibits. Subsequently, the trial judge found Onyeoziri guilty as charged.
In mitigation, defence counsel B. Onuoha appealed for leniency, highlighting Onyeoziri's remorse and status as a first-time offender.
In his ruling, Justice Ayua sentenced Onyeoziri to seven years imprisonment with an option of a Three Million Naira fine, payable into the Consolidated Revenue Account of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Furthermore, the judge ordered the forfeiture of items recovered from the convict, including two laptops, a mobile device, a Toyota Highlander vehicle, and two-story buildings containing six units of two-bedroom flats, to the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Additionally, Onyeoziri was mandated to depose an affidavit of good behaviour before the court.
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