39 Internet fraudsters sentenced in Ibadan

The Ibadan Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has successfully secured the conviction and sentencing of 39 individuals involved in internet fraud.

The accused were tried before Justices O.S. Adeyemi, Bayo Taiwo, and Ladiran Akintola of the Oyo State High Court in Ibadan.

Each defendant faced separate one-count charges, which included impersonation, cheating, possession of fraudulent documents, and obtaining money under false pretences. Upon hearing the charges, all 39 pleaded guilty.

The prosecution presented the facts of the cases, supported by incriminating documents, and urged the court to deliver appropriate sentences.

The convicted individuals are: Fasanya Abdulqudus Gbolahan, Nkiri Oluchukwu Destiny, Fakoya Tobi Samuel, Owolabi Qudus Damilare, Isiaka Olajide Adebayo, Olawoyin Wasiu Olasunkanmi, Olawale Owolabi Abideen, Olayiwola Tunde Waheed, Kehinde Pelumi Abdulrauf, Okunlola Taoreed Abidoun, Okunlola Dolapo Mujeeb, Ademeso Raphael Olamide, Lawal Olajuwon Ridwan, Femi Dogo Oluremi, Ehinmowo Jeremiah Damilola, Joseph Isaac Justice, Enitan Tolulope John, Kolawole Toluwani Josaiah, Alo Ayokunnumi Emmanuel, Adetola Opeyemi Idris and Joshua Imole Shiyanbola.

Others are Idowu Ezekiel David, Salau Abeeb Ayomide, Adeyemi Samuel Adeleke, Philip Olabode Olatunde, Fasanya Gbenga Tunde, Seun Ayomide Babatunde, Ogoayo Alabi Sijuola, Akanji Timothy Bidoun, Quadri Salami Oyindamola, Samuel Adeyemi Oluwatobi, Ogunyemi Gbolahan Opemiposi, Olabanjo Oluwafemi Olatunbosun, Paul Nneji Uche, Ayomiposi Clement Akinyimika, Abdullahi Mustapha Adisa, Ajetunmobi Azeez Olashile, Oluwaseun Adeyeye Adeniran and Onah Austine Ayomide.

The charge against Austine Ayomide reads: “That you, Onah Austine Ayomide ‘m’ on or about March 28, in Ibadan, within the jurisdiction of this court, fraudulently impersonated by representing yourself to be a white woman by the name Linda Mary from United States of America, through your Facebook account (Linda Mary) to one Clifton Deininger, from United States of America, with intent to gain advantage for yourself, and thereby committed an offence of impersonation contrary to Section 484 of the Criminal Code Law Cap 38, Laws of Oyo State, 2000.”

Justice Adeyemi convicted and sentenced Ayomide to a year of community service or a fine of N200,000. Tunde got a month’s jail term or a fine of N250,000. Abeeb Ayomide, Adeleke, Babatunde, Biodun, Oyindamola, Oluwatobi, Olatunbosun, Uche, Akinyimika, Adisa, Olashile, and Adeniran each bagged six months of community service and N50,000. Abeeb Ayomide was slammed with N500,000 in addition to his sentence.

The judge also slammed Sijuola with one month of community service or a fine of N100,000. Olatunde and Opemiposi were handed three months of community service without an option of a fine.

For his part, Justice Taiwo convicted and sentenced Taoreed Abidoun to three months imprisonment, Mujeeb to a four-month jail term, and Olasunkanmi and Abideen to six months of community service.

They were further ordered to pay a fine of N150,000 each in addition to their sentences.

The judge also convicted and sentenced Gbolahan, Damilare, Adebayo, and Abdulrauf to five months of community service each and gave the latter a fine option of N100,000. Waheed and Samuel received four months of community service and a fine of N100,000, while Destiny was sentenced to two months of community service.

In his judgment, Justice Akintola convicted and sentenced Olamide, Oluremi, Damilola, Justice, Josiah, Emmanuel and Shiyanbola to one year’s imprisonment each or a fine of N30,000, N50,000, N75,000, N75,000, N50,000, N120,000 and N100,000 respectively.

Damilola forfeited a green Nissan Micra car with registration number LSD-464-GU and chassis number SJNFBAK11U3001751; Emmanuel forfeited a black Lexus IS 250 car with registration number MUS-158-JHS; and Justice forfeited a black Toyota Corolla car with registration number FST-607-GN.

Justice Akintola also convicted and sentenced Idris and David to six months of community service each or a fine of N60,000 and N150,000, respectively.

Ridwan and John were sentenced to three months of community service or a fine of N25,000 and N30,000, respectively.

The convicts forfeited all recovered items to the Federal Government.

The convicts’ journey to prison began when they were arrested in a sting operation for fraudulent internet activities.