The Ibadan Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) recently secured the conviction and sentence of 21 internet fraudsters before Justice Uche Agomoh of the Federal High Court, sitting in Ibadan and Justices O.S. Adeyemi, Ladiran Akintola, R.B. Olawoyin, O.S. Adeniyi, O.A. Adetujoye, M.O. Ishola and Bayo Taiwo of the Oyo State High Court in Ibadan.
According to a statement issued by the EFCC Head, Media & Publicity, Dele Oyewale, the convicts are: Waheed Hamid Aromose, Aliu Abayomi Victor, Ugbe Emmanuel Ukali, Ajewole Segun Abraham, Abeeb Ridwan Bidemi, Kolawole Oreoluwa Johnson, Olorunyomi Sina Ayo, Ajewole Ojo Kayode and Adewale Adetola Adedotun.
Others are: Olatunji Waliu Adegbaro, Shodeinde Joshua Adeyemi, Adeoye Bayo Lanre, Taufeek Rafiu Olamide, Adegbite Oluwaseyi Damilare, Hamzat Qowiyu Ajibola, Ayorinde Festus Morakinyo, Damilola Moore Ayomide, Ayinde Oluwaseun Ridwan, Ogunsami Farouk Adeyinka, Sheriff Funso Oparinde and Adewale Bolaji Al-Ameen.
They were prosecuted on one-count separate charges bordering on advance fee fraud, obtaining by false pretence, retention of proceeds of crime, possession of fraudulent documents and impersonation.
The charge against Al-Ameen reads: ”That you Adewale Bolaji Al-Ameen ‘M’ on or about 16th December, 2024 at Ibadan, Oyo State, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, fraudulently impersonated by representing yourself to be a white man by the name Joshua Smith from the United States of America to one Jonathan Tocobel, through your Instagram account (Jonathan Tocobel), with intent to gain an advantage for yourself and therefore committed an offence contrary to Section 484 of the Criminal Code Law Cap 38, Laws of Oyo State, 2000.”
All the defendants pleaded “guilty”, causing the prosecution counsel, Modupe Akinkoye, Sanusi Galadanchi, Lanre Suleiman, Mabas Mabur, Shamsudeen Bashir, Umar Abiso, A.M. Aliyu prayed to the court to convict and sentence them accordingly.
Consequently, Justice Akintola convicted and sentenced Adegbaro to six months community service or to pay a fine of N250,000.00 (Two Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira) and ordered the forfeiture of a silver colour Mercedes Benz GLK 2015 car with the registration Number: MUS-783-JA and Chassis Number: WDCGGHB2FG349958, while Kayode, Adedotun and Oparinde bagged one year imprisonment each or to pay a fine of N60,000.00 (Sixty Thousand Naira), N50, 000.00 (Fifty Thousand Naira) and N50, 000.00 (Fifty Thousand Naira) respectively.
Also, Victor, Bidemi and Abraham were convicted and sentenced to three months community service each or a fine of N50,000.00 (Fifty Thousand Naira) each by Justice Akintola while Ukali was convicted and ordered to pay a fine of N40,000,00 (Forty Thousand Naira).
Justice Adeyemi convicted and sentenced Aromose to three months community service, Ayo to six months community service and forfeited a red colour Toyota Camry 2013 Model vehicle with Registration Number: ABC-348-PJ, while Adeyemi bagged one week community service, all without an option of fine.
Johnson was convicted and sentenced to one year imprisonment or to pay a fine of N200,000,00 (Two Hundred Thousand Naira) by Justice Olawoyin as Adeyinka bagged six months community service without an option of fine on the order of Justice Ishola.
On his part, Justice Taiwo convicted and sentenced Al-Ameen to four months community service and to a fine of N100, 000.00 (One Hundred Thousand Naira) and Idris to three months community service without any option of fine.
Ajibola was convicted and sentenced to two months community service, also without an option of fine.
Justice Agomoh convicted and sentenced Damilare, Ayomide and Ridwan to one year imprisonment each but gave Damilare an option of N500, 000.00 (Five Hundred Thousand Naira) fine as Ayomide forfeited a black 2013 Model Toyota Camry car with Registration Number: AKR-860-AL and Chassis Number: 4T1BF1K4CU083639.
Furthermore, Justice Adeniyi convicted and sentenced Lanre to five years imprisonment and Olamide to two years imprisonment without an option of fine.
All the convicts forfeited their mobile phones, laptop computers and other gadgets, including monies found in their respective bank accounts, being the proceeds of their crimes to the federal government.
The convicts’ journey to the Correctional Centre began when they were arrested by the investigators of the Ibadan Zonal Directorate of the EFCC, following credible intelligence that uncovered their involvements in fraudulent internet activities. They were charged to court and convicted.