Five justices of the Federal and State High Courts in Ibadan and Osogbo have sentenced 16 internet fraudsters to prison terms.
The convicts, who were prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), pleaded guilty to various charges including impersonation, obtaining by false pretence, cheating, and possession of fraudulent documents.
The convicts are Abdulsalam Hamid Oladimeji, Odegbile Olufemi Philip, Ajao Taiwo Samuel, Awosanya Babatunde Solomon, Oluwafemi Azeez Abdulazeez, Adeyemo Waliu Adekunle, Aladesanmi Olamilekan Eniola, Ojumu Ayomide Bamidele, Joseph Anthony Oloche, Afolabi Saheed Precious, Ogunjimi Emmanuel Abiodun, Oluwafeyisesan Oluwajubelo Oluwaseki, Lawal Tosinmile Moses, Victor Omaye Adaji, Gabriel Oluwadamilare Olaniran, and Oni-Olutola Olamilekan.
Justice M. Salisu of the Osun State High Court sitting in Osogbo convicted and sentenced Oladimeji, Adaji, and Philip to one year imprisonment each or to pay a fine of N1 million, N300,000, and N300,000 respectively. Olaniran and Olamilekan were sentenced to six months jail term each or to pay a fine of N500,000 and N250,000 respectively.
Justice Ladiran Akintola of the Oyo State High Court sitting in Ibadan convicted and sentenced Samuel, Abdulazeez, and Adekunle to three months of community service each or to pay a fine of N30,000 each. Solomon was sentenced to six months of community service or to pay a fine of N50,000.
Justice Nathaniel Ayo-Emmanuel of the Osun State High Court sitting in Osogbo convicted and sentenced Bamidele to one year imprisonment without an option of fine, Eniola to six months jail term or to pay a fine of N300,000, Oloche to three months jail term or to pay a fine of N300,000, and Precious to three months jail term or to pay a fine of N250,000.
Justice Uche Agomoh of the Federal High Court sitting in Ibadan convicted and sentenced Abiodun to four months imprisonment without an option of fine. Justice E. U. Akpan of the Federal High Court sitting in Ibadan convicted and sentenced Oluwaseki and Moses to one year imprisonment each or to pay a fine of N500,000 and N150,000 respectively.
The convicts forfeited all items and money recovered from them to the federal government. The charges against them included impersonating individuals from the United States, obtaining money by false pretence, and possessing fraudulent documents.
The convictions are a result of the EFCC’s efforts to combat internet fraud in the region. The convicts were among those arrested recently in Akure, Ondo State by EFCC operatives.
