Justice M. Itsueli of an Edo State High Court sitting in Benin City on Wednesday, 14 September 2022 convicted and sentenced Okungbowa Edosa Emmanuel and Erhabor Osaikhuwuomwan to six years imprisonment.
The duo were arraigned by the Benin Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on a separate one-count charge, bordering on retention of proceeds of criminal conduct and fraudulent impersonation.
The charge against Emmanuel reads: that you Okungbowa Edosa Emmanuel sometimes between 16th February 2018 to 16th May 2022 in Benin City, Edo State within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, did retain the aggregate sum of Five Hundred and Sixty-Five Million, Five Hundred and Fifty-Four Thousand, Fifty-Nine Naira, Eleven Kobo (N565, 544,059.11 ) only in your UBA account No:2105913681 knowing that same represent proceeds of criminal conduct to wit: contrary to Section 17(a) of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (Establishment ) Act 2004 and punishable under Section(17(b) of same Act.
The charge against Osaikhuwuomwan reads: that you Erhabor Osaikhuwuomwan (a.k.a Trevor Donovan ) on or about the 24th August 2022 at Agbor bypass, Benin City, Edo State within the jurisdiction of this honourable court did with intent to defraud, fraudulently impersonated one Trevor
Donovan, a white man and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 484 of the Criminal Code Law Cap 48 Laws of Bendel State of Nigeria (as applicable in Edo State.) 1976 and punishable under the same Law
Upon arraignment, the defendants pleaded guilty to the charge, prompting the prosecution counsel: Ibrahim Mohammed, to pray for the court to convict and sentence them accordingly. However, defence counsel, Pascal Ugbome prayed the court to temper justice with mercy as the defendants were first-time offenders.
Justice Itsuele convicted and sentenced Emmanuel to three years imprisonment, with an option of a fine of Two Hundred Thousand Naira (N200, 000.00) while Osaikhuomwan also bagged three years imprisonment with an option of a fine of Three Hundred Thousand Naira (N300,000.00).
The judge ordered that one Mercedes Benz CLA 250 Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV), balances in Access Bank, WEMA Bank, Zenith Bank and GTB accounts belonging to Osaikhuwuomwan be forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria.
Emmanuel forfeited to the Federal Government a Lexus RX 350 SUV, Toyota Corolla, Toyota Venza, Toyota Camry, and Lexus IS 25 cars and an aggregate total of Two Hundred and Fifty-One Thousand, Seven Hundred and Fifty Naira, Thirty-Four kobo (N 251,750.34) only being money found in UBA, Sterling Bank and Guaranty Trust Bank. The judge also ordered that laptops and phones recovered from the defendants, being proceeds of crime, be forfeited to the government.
The convicts’ journey to the correctional centre started when operatives of the Benin Zonal Command of the EFCC arrested them for impersonation and criminal conduct. Investigations showed that Emmanuel had some time between 2018 and 2022 retained the aggregate sum of N565,544,059,11 been proceeds of crime while Osaikhuwuomwan impersonated one Trevor Donovan, a white man.