30th April, 2024
The Ibadan Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has secured the conviction and sentence of 23 internet fraudsters to various jail terms.
They were convicted and jailed by Justices K.B. Olawoyin, Ladiran Akintola, O.A. Adetujoye and O.A. Lajide of the Oyo State High Court Ibadan; Justice Mashkur Salisu of the Osun State High Court sitting in Osogbo and Justice E.U. Akpan of the Federal High Court, Ibadan.
The convicts are Awopetu Damilola Tope, Ayanwola Omotayo Olaoluwa, Azeez Ibrahim Olamide, Adeyinka Wande Ajayi, Dada Segun David, Toyyib Olawale Abiola, Oyewo Ayomide Solomon, Opeloyeru Ishaq Abayomi, Victor Okotie, Najeem Mujeeb Olalekan, Areagbo Taiwo Oladimeji and Owolabi Sodiq Imoleayo,
Others are: Gilbert Izuchukwu Ebuenyi, Anthony Lucky Daniel, Gbadegesin Nurudeen Opeyemi, Oladokun Quadri Akolade, Oluwamuyiwa Emmanuel Adeleye, Andrew Olasunkanmi Omotehinse, Bamidele Olusoji Joseph, Babatunde Ayomide Yinus, Ayinde Lanre Gbolahan, Ayanwola Tobi Gbenga and Ajibade Samuel Oluwafemi.
They were jailed after pleading guilty to one-count separate charges bordering on obtaining by false pretence, possession of fraudulent documents, personation and aiding in committing an offence upon arraignment by the Ibadan Zonal Command of the EFCC between March 20 and April 24, 2024.
The charge against Andrew Olasunkanmi reads: “That you, Andrew Olasunkanmi ‘M’ on or about 14th June, 2023, at Ibadan, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, fraudulently impersonated by representing yourself to be a white woman by the name Jesse from United States of America, through hook-up site (www.liscrawler.com) to one Joel, with intent to obtain benefits for yourself and gained advantage of the total sum of $1,500 (One Thousand, Five Hundred United States of America Dollars), a pretext which you knew to be false, thereby committed the offence of Personation contrary to Section 484 of the Criminal Code Law Cap 38, Laws of Oyo State, 2000.”
All the defendants pleaded guilty to their respective charges when they were read to them in court, as prosecution counsel, A.M. Aliyu, Lanre Suleiman, Mabas Mabur, Umar Abiso, Shamsuddeen Bashir, Oluwatoyin Owodunni, David Olubode, Fatima Baba and Favour Adewunmi prayed the court to convict and sentence them accordingly.
Justice Olawoyin convicted and sentenced Daniel to three years imprisonment or a fine of N1, 000, 000.00, Olasunkanmi to one year jail term or a fine of N200, 000.00, Opeyemi to six months imprisonment or a fine of N100, 000.00 while Tope, Olaoluwa, Olamide, and Ajayi bagged six months community service each or a fine of N100, 000.00 each.
Furthermore, Justice Akpan convicted and sentenced Akolade to one and a half years imprisonment without an option and fine and ordered him to pay the sum of N550, 000.00 as restitution, while Justice Salisu convicted and sentenced Adeleye to one year jail term or a fine of N500, 000.00.
Justice Akintola convicted and sentenced David, Abiola, Solomon and Abayomi to one year imprisonment each or a fine of N50, 000.00 each, and Joseph to three months community service or a fine of N30, 000.00.
Also, Justice Lajide convicted and sentenced Ebuenyi to six months community service but was given an option of N100, 000.00 (One Hundred Thousand Naira) fine.
Also, Justice Adetujoye convicted and remanded Okotie, Olalekan, Oladimeji, Imoleayo, Yinus, Gbolahan, Gbenga and Oluwafemi in the Correctional Centre for two weeks. However, they were cautioned, warned and discharged by the court.
Daniel forfeited one green Toyota Camry vehicle with registration number: FST – 716 – OJA and chassis number: 4T1BK4619U587040, Okotie forfeited N2, 300, 000. 00 (Two Million, Three Hundred Thousand Naira), Oladimeji forfeited N830, 000.00 (Eight Hundred and Thirty Thousand Naira), while Yinus forfeited N174, 000.00 (One Hundred and Forty-seven Thousand Naira) among others to the Federal Government of Nigeria.
All the convicts bagged their imprisonment for their proven involvement in internet fraud. They were charged to court and convicted.