The Federal High Court setting in Benin City, Edo State, has convicted and sentenced Goodluck Ejimiyare to five years imprisonment for his role in recruiting young boys into an internet fraud training network popularly referred to as a “Yahoo School”.
The conviction was secured by the Benin Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) before Justice C.A Obiozor. Ejimiyare was arraigned on a one-count amended charge bordering on conspiracy to commit computer-related fraud.
According to the charge, the defendant conspired with one Ebuka Henry Eze, who is currently at large, to recruit minors into a fraud ring known as “Hustling Kingdom”, where they were allegedly trained in cybercrime activities.
Ejimiyare pleaded guilty to the charge, leading the prosecution to request a conviction and sentencing inline with the law. The court subsequently sentenced him to five years imprisonment, with an option of a N1 million fine.
In addition to the sentence, the court ordered the forfeiture of his mobile phone and mandated that he sign an undertaking to maintain good behaviour.
The case originated after officers of the Nigerian Army’s 4 Brigade apprehended 17 boys at the alleged fraud training centre and handed them over to the EFCC. During interrogation, several of the boys reportedly identified Ejimiyare as the individual who recruited them.
The rulings underscores ongoing efforts by authorities to tackle cybercrime and dismantle recruitment networks, targeting young Nigerians.
-9News Nigeria.
