By Olufemi Oni, Ilorin
Justice Abimbola Awogboro of the Federal High Court, sitting in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, has convicted and sentenced the trio of Ibrahim Ajisafe Oladimeji, Hassan Abdulmalik Temitope and Babatunde David Olusegun to jail for fraud.
They were prosecuted by the Ilorin Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on separate charges bordering on impersonation and cybercrime.
The charge against Temitope reads: “That you, Hassan Abdulmalik Temitope (alias: Jane) sometime in the year 2024, within the Judicial Division of the Federal High Court, did fraudulently impersonate one Jane vide your created 2 backpage account with the intent to obtain and did obtain from one John Gary the gross sum of $2,500 (Two Thousand Five Hundred US Dollars) and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 22 (2) (b) (ii) of the Cybercrime (Prohibition Prevention Etc.) Act 2015 and punishable under Section 22 (2) (b) (IV) of the same Act.”
They pleaded guilty to their charges when they were read to them, following which prosecution counsel, Rashidat Alao led witnesses in evidence to review the facts of the cases. The counsel tendered the extra-judicial statements of the trio including items recovered from them at the point of arrest and urged the court to convict and sentence them accordingly.
Justice Awogboro sentenced Oladimeji to 150 hours of community service on each of his charges without an option of fine, to be served at five hours per day. In addition, he forfeited his iPhone 12 Pro, being the tool of his crime and the sum $100 (One Hundred United States Dollars), being the proceeds of his crime, respectively to the federal government.
Temitope bagged 700 hours of community service without an option of fine, to be served at five hours per day. In addition, he forfeited his iPhone 12, being the tool of his crime and a 2009 Toyota Camry, being the proceeds of his crime, respectively to the federal government.
The judge sentenced Olusegun to 150 hours of community service at five hours per day without an option of fine. In addition, he forfeited his iPhone 12, being the tool of his crime and the sum of $75 (Seventy-five Dollars), being the proceeds of his crime, respectively to the federal government.