The Ibadan Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has secured the conviction of 30 Internet fraudsters before Justices Ladiran Akintola, Adebisi Adetujoye, and K.B. Olawoyin of the Oyo State High Court, Ibadan.

The convicted individuals, including Gbadega Ayomide, Ojo Oluwapelumi Oluwatomiwa, John Odey Ade, Ezekiel Oluwatobi Damilare, Usman Olamilekan Hammed, and others, faced charges of impersonation, obtaining by false pretence, retention of proceeds of crime, and possession of fraudulent documents.

All the defendants pleaded guilty to the charges. Consequently, Justice Akintola sentenced them to varying jail terms with options of fines, while one convict was cautioned and discharged.

As part of the sentences, the convicts forfeited items including cash, mobile phones, and a Lexus 350 car with registration number FKJ-320-HW recovered from one of the convicts, Anakweze. The court also ordered Anakweze to pay restitution of N8.7 million to his victim.

In a related development, the Maiduguri Zonal Directorate of the EFCC secured the conviction of one Abraham Ayomikun Ajibodu before Justice K. Dagat of the Federal High Court, Maiduguri.

Ajibodu was arraigned on February 19, 2025, on two counts of money laundering and impersonation involving N10 million.

He pleaded guilty to the charges, prompting prosecution counsel Abdulmalik D. Aliyu to request his conviction.

Justice Dagat sentenced Ajibodu to four years imprisonment on both counts, with an option of a N200,000 fine per count. Additionally, the judge ordered the forfeiture of $400, representing the value of cash App and gift cards obtained by the convict, to be returned to his victims. Other forfeited items included an iPhone 13 Pro Max, an Oraimo power bank, and a Honda Accord 2003 model, which were handed over to the federal government.

Ajibodu’s arrest stemmed from his use of fake social media accounts, including a Facebook profile under the name “George Strait,” to defraud foreign nationals.