Two Edo siblings, others sentenced to jail terms for Internet fraud

Two brothers, Teddy Ovbokhan Hart and Rooney Odion Hart have been convicted  and jailed by Justice M. Itsueli of Edo State High Court, sitting in Benin City for fraud.

The siblings, as well as  and 10 other Internet  fraudster were convicted on Thursday.

The 10 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 prosecuted by the Benin Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on separate one count, bordering on advance fee fraud, obtaining by false pretences, retention of proceeds of crime and possession of fraudulent documents.

The charge against Teddy Hart reads, “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, one 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.”

They all pleaded “guilty” to the charges.

The prosecution counsel, I.M Elodi, K.Y Bello, I.K Agwai, Ibrahim Faisal, M.S Dahiru and Ibrahim Al-Amin asked the court to convict and sentence them accordingly, while the defence counsel pleaded with the court to temper justice with mercy, stating that they have become remorseful for their actions.

Justice Itsueli convicted and sentenced  Felix, Iziegbe and Osagie to two years’ imprisonment, each with option to pay N300,000 fine.

He convicted and sentenced Ogbeide, Blessed, Godspower, Gideon, Michael and Oghomwen to two years’ imprisonment, each or to pay N200,000.

He also convicted and sentenced Teddy and Rooney Hart to two years’ imprisonment, each or to pay N350,000  fine.

Ojeisemi was equally convicted to two years imprisonment or to pay N150,000 fine.

All the convicts forfeited money found in their respective bank accounts their mobile phones and laptop computers to the Federal Government and undertook in writing to be of good behaviour henceforth.

The convicts’ journey to jail began began with their arrest by operatives of the Benin Zonal Directorate of the EFCC, following credible intelligence that exposed their fraudulent internet activities.