Thirty-three internet fraudsters have been convicted and sentenced in Oyo and Ogun states for cybercrimes.
The Ibadan Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) said it had secured the conviction and sentencing of the accused to various jail terms.
The EFCC, in a statement by its Head, Media and Publicity, Mr. Dele Oyewale, said, “The convicts were jailed by Justices Ladiran Akintola, Adebukola Olajide, and M.O. Ishola of the Oyo State High Court, Ibadan; Justice B.B. Adebowale of the Ogun State High Court sitting in Abeokuta; and Justice Uche Agomoh of the Federal High Court, Ibadan, Oyo State. They were arraigned on one-count separate charges bordering on cybercrime.”
They include Amos Temitope Taiwo, Fatai Habeeb Mayowa, Lateef Aremu, Abiona Itunuoluwa Solomon, Olamijulo Abiodun Kayode, Abulele Endurance Ogbemudia, Owolade Shamsudeen Ayoola, and Odesanya. Michael Adedimeji, Oyedele Isreal Sunday, John Timileyin Olasupo, Toriola Yusuf Alabi, Nafiu Wariz Ayomide, and Adewale Adeyemi Fasasi Mumeen, Azeez Faruk Olanrewaju, Olamilekan Samuel Olonitola, Okeke Hycent Obinna, Quzeem Opeyemi Tajudeen, Theophilus Iroboudu Onoapor, and Olanrewaju Muhammed Opeyemi
Others are Oladokun Abeeb Olaide, Precious Akinwale Balogun, Adebari Sodiq Wemimo, Ogunleye Ridwan Babatunde, Akinrinola Emmanuel Pelumi, Odigwe Victory Okwise, Seyitan David Ojo, Oyinwola Michael Olakunle, Adewale Ibrahim Adegoke, Odunton Durojaiye Oluwaseyi, Opaleye Ramadan Olanrewaju, Tolulope Adedoyin Asekoni, Oyewole Gideon David, and Asogbon Emmanuel Tobiloba.
The lone-count separate charge reads: “That you, Opaleye Ramadan Olanrewaju ‘M’, on or about February 4, 2020, at Ibadan, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, with intent to defraud one Michael via your Instagram account, falsely represented yourself as Catherine, a white woman from the United States of America, which representation you knew to be false, thereby committing the offence of personation contrary to Section 484 of the Criminal Code Law Cap 38, Laws of Oyo State, 2000.”
They all pleaded “guilty” to the charge when it was read to them.
Consequently, the prosecution counsel tendered the facts of the cases and indicting documents before the courts. They also prayed to the courts to convict and sentence the defendants as charged.
The Justices, having listened to the prayers of both parties, convicted and sentenced the defendants accordingly.
Taiwo was sentenced to eighteen months of imprisonment, and Olasupo and Babatunde to one-year jail terms each. Also, Aremu, Solomon, Adedimeji, Sunday, Alabi, Ayomide, Mumeen, Olanrewaju, Olonitola, Obinna, Tajudeen, Onoapor, Opeyemi, Wemimo, Pelumi, Okwise, Olakunle, Adegoke, Oluwaseyi, Olanrewaju, Asekoni, David, and Tobiloba bagged six months of community service each.
Furthermore, Mayowa was sentenced to eight months of community service, while Kayode, Ogbemudia, Olaide, Balogun, and Ojo bagged three months of community service each, and Ayoola was sentenced to two months of community service.
The courts ordered that the convicts restitute their various victims and forfeit all items recovered from them to the Federal Government of Nigeria, including eight exotic vehicles.
All 33 convicts started their journey to the correctional centre when they were arrested in various locations in Oyo and Ogun states by operatives of the EFCC.
Further investigations showed that they were involved in different cases of internet-related crimes. They were subsequently charged in court and convicted.
