‘We didn’t arraign a minor’ — EFCC clarifies conviction of 19-year-old internet fraudster

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has refuted the viral allegation that its officials arrested and prosecuted a minor in July 2023.

In a statement on Monday, Dele Oyewale, the head of media and publicity at EFCC,  said one internet fraudster, Victor Odeh, was arrested by operatives and subsequently convicted on July 21 by a Kaduna high court.

Oyewale said Udeh was 19 years old when he was arrested alongside four others, and was sentenced to two years imprisonment.

“The attention of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has been drawn to some insinuation and contrived accounts of the conviction of an internet fraudster, Victor Oche Odeh, by Justice Darius Khobo of the  Kaduna State High Court on July 21, 2023,” the statement reads.

“Odeh, 19, was among five undergraduates convicted and sentenced to two years imprisonment each, after pleading guilty to a one-count separate charge bordering on internet fraud. The other convicts are: Chidebere Stanley Opara (a.k.a. Avail Hollywood), Manasseh Sefa Ephraim (a.k.a. Felicia_dannyyels),  Chukwukere Obinna Paul (a.k.a. Shaun Lee) and Enyogu Etim Ekpo (a.k.a. Henry Wilson, Jasdav7).

“In a press release dated July 11, 2023, the ages of all the convicts, including Odeh’s, were not stated. For the purpose of clarity, Odeh is 19 years old. All the false narratives being bandied about in some section of the social media that he is seven years old should be ignored.

“The EFCC did not “parade” the convict, and it was a court of law that rightfully convicted him. Facts are sacred. Information about the offence, prosecution, conviction and sentence of Odeh is on all social media platforms of the EFCC. The public is enjoined to ignore any hoopla connected to his conviction.”