Operatives of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in Ibadan, Oyo state, has secured the conviction and sentencing of 25 internet fraudsters before seven different judges, sitting in Federal and State High Courts, respectively in Ibadan, Oyo State and Osogbo, Osun State.
Gatekeepers News reports that the convicts are Tomiwa Olumide Ayodele, Adeniyi Kehinde Nuhu, Adeniyi Warris Adegbola, Toyeeb Abayomi Ijadunola, Isiah Akinyele Kehinde, Oluwadunsin Johnson Alabi, Muis Lawal Gbolahan, Adeyinka Kola Adeleye, Sodiq Iyanu Babatunde, Ojo Blessing Adeniyi, Akinrinwoye Victor Olamide, Olaloye Olanrewaju Kinsley, Daniel Olashile Maiye and Omolade Opeyemi Oluwaseyi.
Others are Olamide Adekunle Adeoye, Kazeem Makinde Olawale, Malik Olamilekan Ayoade, Emmanuel Ayomide Ojubanire, Dada Bamidele John, Henry Ogochukwu Ikeh, Faruq Omoleye Adeola, Oluyole Ayobami Emmanuel, Ayodele Micheal Damilola, Adaramoye Abayomi, and Yussuf Quadri Abiodun.
They were arrested at Signatures Elixir and Alba Royale Club houses in Akure, Ondo State, and Ede, Osun State after the commission received credible intelligence on their fraudulent internet activities in both states.
Head, of Media and Publicity of EFCC, Dele Oyewale, in a statement, noted they were prosecuted on one-count separate charges, except Nuhu who faced two-count charges.
The charges bordered on impersonation, cheating, possession of fraudulent documents, and obtaining by false pretence.
The charge against Abiodun reads: “That you, Yussuf Quadri Abiodun ‘M’, sometimes in May, 2024 at Ede, Osun State, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, with intent to gain advantage for yourself impersonated one Josh Rita, a female from United States of America through Facebook Account to one Jesus Valdez, wherein you obtained the sum of $1420 USD (One Thousand, Four Hundred and Twenty United States of America Dollars) the pretext you knew to be false and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 22(2)(b)(i) and punishable under Section 22(2)(b)(iv) of the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention etc.) (Amendment) Act, 2024.”
That of Abayomi reads: “That you, Adaramoye Abayomi ‘M’ on or about 20th May, 2024 within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, with intent to gain advantage for yourself, falsely impersonated one Greg Fernando, a male from the United States of America through Tiktok Account with username @greg4082 and chatted with one Ann Wesley and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 22(2)(b)(i) and punishable under Section 22(2)(b)(iv) of the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention etc.) (Amendment) Act, 2024.”
They pleaded “guilty” to their charges when read to them, and prosecution counsels: Oluwatoyin Owodunni, Modupe Akinkoye, Oyelakin Oyediran, Sanusi Galadanchi, Lanre Suleiman, Mabas Mabur, Shamsuddeen, Umar Abiso, Abiddeen Muhammad, Adamu Sahabi, Fatima Baba, David Olubode and Favour Adewunmi prayed the courts to convict and sentence them accordingly.
Presiding judge of Osun State High Court sitting in Osogbo, Justice M.Salisu convicted and sentenced Ayodele, Nuhu, Adegbola, and Ijadunola to one-year imprisonment each or to pay a fine of N1million (One Million Naira) each.
The judge also ruled that Nuhu forfeit a Toyota Camry car, a 2005 Model with Registration number: APP – 572 – GR to federal government, adding that he should repay his victim, the sum of N415, 000.00 (Four Hundred and Fifteen Thousand Naira).
Ijadunola was also ordered to forfeit a grey-colored Toyota Camry car to federal government and repay his victim, the sum of N2, 500, 000.00 (Two Million, Five Hundred Thousand Naira).
The judge also convicted and sentenced Kehinde to a one-year jail term or option of paying a fine of N500,000.00 (Five Hundred Thousand Naira).
Alabi was sentenced to six months imprisonment with option of paying a fine of N300,000.00 (Three Hundred Thousand Naira).
Abayomi was sentenced to six months imprisonment with option of paying a fine of N250,000.00 (Two Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira).
Abiodun bagged eight months imprisonment with option of paying a fine of N500,000.00 (Five Hundred Thousand Naira) and was also ordered to forfeit his grey-coloured TVS motorcycle.
Justice Ladiran Akintola of Oyo State High Court, sitting in Ibadan convicted and sentenced Gbolahan, Adeleye, and Babatunde to three months of community service each with option of paying a fine of N30,000.00 (Thirty Thousand Naira) fine each.
Justice Nathaniel Ayo-Emmanuel of the Osun State High Court, sitting in Osogbo convicted and sentenced Adeniyi, Olamide, and Kinsley to a six-month jail term each.
Adeniyi was given N500,000.00 (Five Hundred Thousand Naira) option for a fine, while Olamide and Kinsley were given N300,000.00 (Three Hundred Thousand Naira) option for a fine, respectively. Oluwaseyi bagged one-year jail term without an option of fine from the judge and Maiye two weeks imprisonment.
Justice Ayo-Emmanuel also convicted and sentenced Adeoye and gave him N200,000.00 (Two Hundred Thousand Naira) option of fine.
He ordered that Olawale, John, and Ayoade be jailed for three months each or pay a fine of N250,000.00 (Two Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira), N200, 000.00 (Two Hundred Thousand Naira) and N300,000.00, (Three Hundred Thousand Naira), respectively.
Ojubanire got two months imprisonment from the judge with option of paying a fine of N200,000.00 (Two Hundred Thousand Naira).
Justice M. Ishola of Oyo State High Court, sitting in Ibadan convicted and sentenced Ikeh to six months of community service.
Justice Bayo Taiwo convicted and sentenced Adeola to five months of community service in addition to paying a fine of N100,000. 00 (One Hundred Thousand Naira).
Justice E.U. Akpan of Federal High Court, sitting in Ibadan, Oyo State convicted and sentenced Emmanuel and Damilola to one-year imprisonment with option of paying a fine of N150,000. 00 (One Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira) each.
All the convicts forfeited all items recovered from them to the federal government.
