Convicted Internet Fraudster Not Underage, Says EFCC

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Monday refuted the false narratives surrounding the age of Victor Oche Odeh, a convicted internet fraudster, saying Odeh is not seven years old as widely claimed.

In a statement issued on Monday via X, the EFCC stated that the convict is 19 years old.

The clarification came following the conviction of Odeh and four other undergraduates by Justice Darius Khobo of the Kaduna State High Court on July 21, 2023.

All five individuals pleaded guilty to a one-count separate charge of internet fraud and were each sentenced to two years imprisonment.

The EFCC emphasized that the ages of the convicts, including Odeh, were not explicitly stated in its previous press release dated July 11, 2023.

The statement read, “The attention of the 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.

“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).

“The EFCC stated that the ages of all the convicts, including Odeh’s, were not stated in its Press Release dated July 11, 2023.

“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 is not 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.”