The Edo State High Court sitting in Benin City has convicted and sentenced two brothers, Teddy Ovbokhan Hart and Rooney Odion Hart, along with 10 others, for internet fraud-related offences.

Justice M. Itsueli delivered the judgement on Thursday, August 28, following their arraignment by the Benin Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The other convicts are: Thompson Ogbeide, Iria Saturday Blessed, Igbinomwania Lucky Godspower, Ojiezele Felix, Akhigbe Gideon, Osazuwa Oghomwen, Agbonifo Iziegbe, Lucky Osagie, Osemwegie Efosa Michael, and Victor Ojeisemi.

They were arraigned on separate one-count charges bordering on advance fee fraud, obtaining by false pretence, possession of fraudulent documents, and retention of proceeds of crime.

Their conviction followed their arrest by EFCC operatives in Benin, after credible intelligence linked them to fraudulent online activities.

One of the charges against Teddy Hart read:

“That you, Teddy Ovbokhan Hart (m), on or about the 15th of August, 2025, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did have in your possession, on your iPhone 12 with IMEI Number 359879850558150, documents which you knew or ought to have known contained a false pretence and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 6 and 8 of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act 2006 and punishable under Section 1(3) of the same Act.”

All the defendants pleaded guilty to their charges. While EFCC counsel, I.M. Elodi, K.Y. Bello, I.K. Agwai, Ibrahim Faisal, M.S. Dahiru, and Ibrahim Al-Amin urged the court to convict them as charged, defence counsel pleaded for leniency, citing remorse.

Justice Itsueli thereafter sentenced Felix, Iziegbe, and Osagie to two years’ imprisonment each, or a fine of N300,000.

Ogbeide, Blessed, Godspower, Gideon, Michael, and Oghomwen were sentenced to two years’ imprisonment each, or a fine of N200,000.

Teddy and Rooney Hart each received two years’ imprisonment or a fine of N350,000, while Ojeisemi was sentenced to two years’ imprisonment or a fine of N150,000.

In addition, the court ordered the forfeiture of their mobile phones, laptops, and funds traced to their bank accounts to the Federal Government, being proceeds of crime.

The convicts also signed undertakings to be of good behaviour going forward. (Daily Sun)