IBADAN:The Oyo State High Court in Ibadan has convicted and sentenced 30 internet fraudsters to varying terms of imprisonment. The convictions were secured by the Ibadan Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), before Justices Ladiran Akintola, Adebisi Adetujoye, and K.B. Olawoyin on Thursday.
The convicted individuals include: Gbadega Ayomide, Ojo Oluwapelumi Oluwatomiwa, John Odey Ade, Ezekiel Oluwatobi Damilare, Usman Olamilekan Hammed, Ogunjobi Oluwafemi Oluwadunsin, Abdulrauf Taiwo Adekunmi, Ariyo Adejuwon Iyanu, Ahmed Ridwan Tajudeen, Ayomide Adedara, Oyewale Opeyemi Kayode, Charles Nneji, Obaoye Testimony Isaac, Olisemeka Tochukwu Anakweze, Ojo Opeyemi Makanjuola, Taiwo Kayode Goodness, Bolarinwa Usman Gbolahan, Olawuni Gbenga Samuel, Segun Michael Balogun, Charles Ifeoluwa Olayode, Sule Taofeek Rotimi, Sodade Oludotun Tolulope, Adeyemo Waris Olabode, Akinnawonu Bidemi Raphel, Ayanda Samuel Oluwaseyi, Adeniyi Oluwasola Oluwatosin, Olorunosebi Toyyib Alabi, Okorie Ifeanyi Favour, Akande Opeyemi Babatunde, and Siyanbola Oluwaseun Ibrahim.
The individuals were prosecuted on separate one-count charges, which included impersonation, obtaining by false pretenses, retention of proceeds of crime, and possession of fraudulent documents. For instance, the charge against Siyanbola Oluwaseun Ibrahim read:
That you, Siyanbola Oluwaseun Ibrahim, sometimes in June 2022 at Ibadan, Oyo State, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, with intent to defraud one Austin Frazier via Facebook Messenger, falsely represented yourself as Vivian Harding, a female from Chicago, United States, which representation you knew to be false, thereby committing the offense of personation, contrary to Section 484 of the Criminal Code Law, Cap 30, Laws of Oyo State, 2000.”
Upon their arraignment, all the defendants pleaded “guilty” to the charges, prompting the prosecution team—comprising Modupe Akinkoye, Oluwatoyin Owodunni, Chidi Okoli, Sanusi Galadanchi, Lanre Suleiman, Mabas Mabur, Shamsuddeen Bashir, David Olubode, and A.M. Aliyu—to ask the court to convict and sentence them accordingly.
Justice Akintola sentenced some of the defendants to various prison terms and fines. For example, Oluwatosin was sentenced to one year in prison or a fine of N150,000, while Oluwaseyi was given six months imprisonment or a fine of N100,000. Raphael received a three-month jail term or a fine of N50,000.
Other individuals like Favour, Olabode, Tolulope, Gbolahan, Goodness, Makanjuola, Nneji, and Isaac were sentenced to six months of community service or a fine of N100,000 each. Ibrahim, Alabi, and Babatunde were ordered to serve three months of community service or pay a fine of N30,000 each.
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In a separate ruling, Justice Olawoyin convicted Ayomide, Oluwatomiwa, Ade, Balogun, Olayode, and Rotimi, sentencing them to one year in prison or fines ranging from N50,000 to N200,000. Samuel was sentenced to six months imprisonment or a fine of N100,000.
Justice Adetujoye sentenced Damilare, Hammed, Oluwadunsin, Adekunmi, Iyanu, Kayode, and Anakweze to two months of community service, while Adedara was given one month of community service. Justice Adetujoye also cautioned and discharged Tajudeen.
Additionally, all convicts were ordered to forfeit items recovered from them, including money, mobile phones, and a Lexus 350 car (registration number: FKJ – 320 – HW), which was recovered from Anakweze.
Anakweze was further directed by the court to make restitution of N8,731,000 (Eight Million, Seven Hundred Thirty-One Thousand Naira) to his victim.
These convictions and sentences are part of the ongoing efforts by the EFCC to combat internet fraud and related crimes across the country.
