The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has secured the conviction of 25 internet fraudsters before seven different judges, sitting in Federal and State High Courts, respectively in Ibadan, Oyo State and Osogbo, Osun State.
The convicts are: Tomiwa Ayodele, Adeniyi Nuhu, Adeniyi Adegbola, Toyeeb Ijadunola, Isiah Kehinde, Oluwadunsin Alabi, Muis Gbolahan, Adeyinka Adeleye, Sodiq Babatunde, Ojo Adeniyi, Akinrinwoye Olamide, Olaloye Kinsley, Daniel Maiye and Omolade Oluwaseyi.
Others include: Olamide Adeoye, Kazeem Olawale, Malik Ayoade, Emmanuel Ojubanire, Dada John, Henry Ikeh, Faruq Adeola, Oluyole Emmanuel, Ayodele Damilola, Adaramoye Abayomi, and Yussuf Abiodun.` `
They were prosecuted on one-count separate charges, excepting 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 Abiodun ‘M’, sometimes in May, 2024 at Ede, Osun State, within the jurisdiction of this 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 $1,420, 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 May 20, 2024, within the jurisdiction of this 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.”
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They all pleaded “guilty” to their charges when they were read to them, upon which prosecution counsel: 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.
Justice M. Salisu of the Osun State High Court, sitting in Osogbo convicted and sentenced Ayodele, Nuhu, Adegbola and Ijadunola to one year imprisonment each or to pay a fine of N1million.
Nuhu forfeited a Toyota Camry car, 2005 Model with Registration number: APP – 572 – GR to the federal government and also to restitute the sum of N415,000 to his victim.
Ijadunola forfeited a grey-coloured Toyota Camry car to the federal government and to restitute the sum of N2.5million to his victim.
He also convicted and sentenced Kehinde to one year jail term or to pay a fine of N500,000 and slammed Alabi with six months imprisonment or to pay a fine of N300,000, Abayomi got six months imprisonment or to pay a fine of N250,000, while Abiodun bagged eight months imprisonment or to pay a fine of N500,000.
He forfeited his grey-coloured TVS motorcycle.
Justice Ladiran Akintola of the Oyo State High Court, sitting in Ibadan convicted and sentenced Gbolahan, Adeleye and Babatunde to three months of community service each or to pay a fine of N30,000 fine each.
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Justice Nathaniel Ayo-Emmanuel of the Osun State High Court, sitting in Osogbo convicted and sentenced Adeniyi, Olamide and Kinsley to six months jail term each.
Adeniyi was given N500,000 option of fine, while Olamide and Kinsley were given N300, 000 option of 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 option of fine.
He jailed Olawale, John and Ayoade for three months each or to pay a fine of N250,000, N200,000 and N300,000, respectively.
Ojubanire got two months imprisonment from the judge or to pay a fine of N200,000.
Justice M. Ishola of the Oyo State High Court, sitting in Ibadan convicted and sentenced Ikeh to six months community service, while Justice Bayo Taiwo convicted and sentenced Adeola to five months of community service in addition to paying a fine of N100,000.
Justice E.U. Akpan of the Federal High Court, sitting in Ibadan, Oyo State convicted and sentenced Emmanuel and Damilola to one year imprisonment or to pay a fine of N150,000, each.
The convicts forfeited all items recovered from them to the federal government.
Their road to prison began with their arrest in a sting operation, carried out in Signatures Elixir and Alba Royale Clubhouses in Akure, Ondo State and Ede, Osun State by operatives of the Ibadan Zonal Command of the EFCC following credible intelligence on their fraudulent internet activities in both states.
