Benue: Court Asks ‘Yahoo Boy’ To Pay Fine Of N500k For N7million Fraud

A Federal High Court sitting in Makurdi, Benue State, has convicted and sentenced James Ebute Adejoh to one year imprisonment for Point of Sale (POS) fraud, also known as “Yahoo Yahoo” to the tune of N7,118,000.00 (Seven Million One Hundred and Eighteen Thousand Naira).

The judge, Justice A.R Mohammed, however, gave the convict an option of N500,000 fine.

Adejoh was convicted after pleading guilty to one- count charge preferred against him by the Makurdi Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The charge reads: “That you, James Ebute Adejoh ‘M’ sometime in 2021 in Makurdi, Benue State Nigeria within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, with intent to defraud knowingly sent a message to Accelerex Network limited that materially misrepresented the fact that a transaction of N7,118,000.00 (Seven Million One Hundred and Eighteen Thousand Naira Only) failed which the Bank replied upon and suffered a loss by making a charge back to you, and thereby committed an offence, contrary to and punishable under Section 14(2) of the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention Etc) Act, 2015″.

A statement issued on Tuesday afternoon, September 13 by the Spokesman of the EFCC, Wilson Uwujaren, said Adejoh pleaded “guilty” to the charge when it was read to him.

Court Jails ‘Yahoo Boy’ In Benue For N7million Fraud

According to the statement, “In view of his plea, prosecution counsel, M. Yusuf, reviewed the facts of the case before the court and prayed that the defendant be  convicted  and sentenced accordingly.  

“In his judgment, Justice Muhammed convicted and sentenced Adejoh to one year imprisonment, with an option of fine of N500,000.00 (Five Hundred Thousand Naira).

“Also, a Toyota Corolla 2014 model car,    valued at N4,650,000,000, with Iphone 12 pro-max valued at  N650,000, recovered from the convict, during investigation, was forfeited to be sold by the EFCC and the proceeds restituted  to the victim. The two bank accounts traceable to the convict were also frozen by the court.  

“The convict started his journey to the Correctional Centre when he was arrested by operatives of the Makurdi Zonal Command of the EFCC, based on a Point of Sales,  POS,  fraudulent dealings to the tune of  N7,118,000.00.”  

In other news, Kanyi Daily had reported that Justice M. Itsueli of Edo State High Court,  sitting in Benin- City, convicted and sentenced two “Yahoo Boys” to eight years imprisonment for internet- related fraud. Justice Itsueli however, gave them an option of N700k.