BY SUNDAY SAMUEL—The conviction of a suspected internet fraud recruiter in Benin City has shed light on how a group of 17 young men arrested by security operatives became the turning point in a major investigation.
The breakthrough came after the suspects, initially apprehended in connection with an alleged cybercrime training camp, reportedly provided information that helped authorities trace and prosecute those behind the recruitment network.
Following their arrest, operatives of the Nigerian Army reportedly handed the 17 youths over to the Benin Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission for further investigation.
During questioning, several of the boys confessed that they had been recruited into a suspected “Yahoo school” known as Hustling Kingdom, a development that helped investigators identify key individuals linked to the scheme.
On Monday April 20, 2026, the Commission, secured the conviction and sentence of Goodluck Ejimiyare before Justice (Professor) C. A. Obiozor of the Federal High Court, sitting in Benin City.
The convict was arraigned on March 30, 2026 on an amended one -count charge bordering on conspiracy with one Ebuka Henry Eze( now at large) to commit internet fraud. Ejimiyare was said to be responsible for recruiting young boys for the operators of Hustling Kingdom (aka Yahoo school0.
The charge reads: That you Goodluck Ejimiyare sometime in 2025, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court did conspire with one Ebuka Henry Eze (at large) to commit an offence to wit computer related fraud and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 27 (b) of the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention etc) Act 2015 (as amended 2024) and punishable under Section 22(2) (iv) of the same Act.
The defendant pleaded guilty to the charge when it was read to him, prompting the prosecution counsel, Elodi Immaculate to pray the court to sentence and convict the defendant accordingly,. However, the trial judge adjourned to April 20 for the sentencing.
On Monday April 20, the judge convicted and sentenced the defendant to five years imprisonment or a fine of N1million. The convict is also to forfeit his phone and undertake in writing to be of good behaviour.
Ejimiyare’s road to prison began when officers of the Nigerian Army 4 Brigade Headquarters handed over 17 boys arrested at a yahoo school to the EFCC. Upon interrogation, many of the boys confessed that they were recruited by Ejimayare into the Hustling Kingdom school.
