Court convicts 15 Internet fraudsters in Ibadan

The Ibadan Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has secured the conviction of 15 internet fraudsters. Justices Olusola Adetujoye, O.A. Lajide and S.O. Adeyemi of the Oyo State High Court sitting in Ibadan sentenced them to various jail terms.

They were jailed after pleading guilty to one-count separate charges, following their arraignment. However, one of the convicts, Adebola Sheriff, was arraigned and convicted on a five-count charge.

The other convicts are: Adebayo Ifeoluwa Timilehin, Philip Daniel, Ifemadi Haruna Segun, Okeola Olajide James Bolanle, Akinjisola Ayodeji Francis, Giwa Usman Dolapo, Olorunsola Sodiq Babatunde, Fatolu Moses Opeyemi, Bashiru Sodiq Omobolaji, Omowaye Oluwatosin Olamilekan, Badmus Yusuf Omobolaji, Lateef Ramon Olamilekan, Idowu Michael Oluwasegun, and Okunola Samuel Olalekan.

One of the charges reads: “That you, Okunola Samuel Olalekan, on or about April 9, 2023, in Ibadan, Oyo State, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, with intention to defraud through the Google Chat account: [email protected], did falsely represent yourself to be Joy Ella, a female from the United States of America, thereby committed the offence of impersonation, contrary to Section 484 of the Criminal Code Law Cap 38, Laws of Oyo State, 2000.”

Upon their arraignments, the convicts pleaded “guilty” when the charges were read to them. Consequently, the facts of the cases were reviewed and incriminating documents tendered in evidence before the courts.

following which the prosecuting counsel urged the courts to convict and sentence them accordingly.

After listening to all the counsel, the judges convicted and sentenced Yusuf, Sodiq and Olamilekan to six months community service each, while Timilehin, Daniel, Segun, Bolanle, Ramon, Oluwasegun, Sheriff and Olalekan bagged one month community service each.

Opeyemi, Babatunde, Dolapo and Francis were handed two weeks community service each. Yusuf was ordered to pay N100, 000 fine, in addition to his sentence, while Olamilekan was ordered to pay N200,000, and Sodiq N170, 000, in addition to their sentence. All the convicts were ordered to make restitution to their various victims and forfeited all items recovered from them to the Federal Government.

MEANWHILE, the Oyo State Police Command has arrested and handed over to the Ibadan Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), twin brothers, Abdulrauf Taiwo and Abdulrauf Kehinde, for alleged internet fraud, alongside five others, comprising: Adeyemi Samuel, Alabi Ayomide, Yekini Faroug, Hassan Olamilekan, and Ibrahim Olawale.

Seven phones, among other items, were recovered from the suspects. The police said the suspects have made useful statements to operatives of the anti-graft commission and would be charged to court as soon as investigations are concluded.