The Ibadan Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has successfully convicted and sentenced seventeen internet fraudsters in Oyo and Ogun states. The convicts were arraigned before Justice Olusola Adetujoye of the Oyo State High Court and Justice A.A. Babawale of the Ogun State High Court on separate charges. They were sentenced between January 8 and 28, 2024, to various jail terms.
The seventeen fraudsters who were convicted are Akinbode Abiodun, Samad Tijani Owolabi, Ademola Olabamiji Quadri, Evewiekpoamare Tivere Jackson, Adeagbo Stephen Adegbenro, Adesanya Olamilekan Dare, Yusuf Saka Olaoluwatobi, Akinbode Adedolapo Joshua, Musa Ayinde Olorunnisola, Lawal Mohammed Segun, Moses Bitrus Bugama, Odude Kehinde Ayomipo, Bashiru Quadri Adeyinka, Ochoche Silas Ochola, Nurudeen Olamilekan Quam, Afeez Adewale Jimoh, and Olowookere Ademola Sobbur.
All the convicts pleaded guilty to the charges brought against them. The prosecution counsels presented facts of the cases to the courts, which included incriminating materials and indicting documents. The prosecution counsels also requested that the courts convict and sentence the defendants accordingly.
Justice Babawale sentenced Sobbur to one year imprisonment without an option for a fine, while Justice Adetujoye sentenced Olorunnisola to two months imprisonment. Jimoh, Quam, Ochola, Adeyinka, Ayomipo, Bugama, Segun, and Olaoluwatobi were each sentenced to one month imprisonment. Joshua, Dare, Adegbenro, and Abiodun received two weeks imprisonment without an option for a fine. Owolabi, Quadri, and Jackson were sentenced to two weeks of community service each.
The courts also ordered the convicts to restitute their victims, with Owolabi required to pay the sum of N11,749,823.36 as restitution. Additionally, items such as vehicles were forfeited by the convicts to the Federal Government.
In a related development, the Nigeria Police Force handed over four suspected internet fraudsters to the Ibadan Zonal Command of the EFCC on January 26, 2024. The suspects, Abiodun Ajayi, Salako Saheed, Qudus Owolabi, and Abiodun Ridwan, were arrested in Ibadan following intelligence on their fraudulent internet-related activities. Items recovered from them included vehicles, laptops, and mobile phones. They will be charged to court once investigations are concluded.
Overall, the EFCC continues its efforts in combating internet fraud and bringing perpetrators to justice. The convictions and sentences imposed on these fraudsters serve as a deterrent to others engaging in similar activities.
