Court sends 33 ‘online fraudsters’ to jail

The Ibadan zonal command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has successfully found 33 cyber fraudsters guilty and sentenced them to various prison terms.

Justices B.B. Adebowale of the Ogun State High Court in Abeokuta, Justice Uche Agomoh of the Federal High Court in Ibadan, Oyo state, and Justices Ladiran Akintola, Adebukola Olajide, and M.O. Ishola of the Oyo State High Court in Ibadan all sentenced the criminals to jail terms.

They were charged with one count each of several counts that involved cybercrimes.

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They are: Olamijulo Abiodun Kayode, Abulele Endurance Ogbemudia, Owolade Shamsudeen Ayoola, Odesanya, Lateef Aremu, Fatai Habeeb Mayowa, and Amos Temitope Taiwo. Adewale Adeyemi, Toriola Yusuf Alabi, Nafiu Wariz Ayomide, John Timileyin Olasupo, Oyedele Israel Sunday, and Michael Adedimeji Mumeen Fasasi, Olanrewaju Muhammed Opeyemi, Azeez Faruk Olanrewaju, Olamilekan Samuel Olonitola, Okeke Hycent Obinna, Quzeem Opeyemi Tajudeen, and Theophilus Iroboudu Onoapor.

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 are the others.

The charge against you, Opaleye Ramadan Olanrewaju ‘M, is that on or about February 4, 2020, in Ibadan, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, you falsely represented yourself as Catherine, a white woman from the United States of America on your Instagram account, knowing it was false. As a result, you committed the offence of Personation in violation of Section 484 of the Criminal Code Law Cap 38, Laws of Oyo State, 2000, with the intent to defraud Michael through your account.

When the charge was read to the accused, all of them entered a “guilty” plea, according to a statement released by the commission’s head of media and publicity, Dele Oyewale.

As a result, the prosecution presented the courts with the case facts and indictment documents. In addition, they begged the judges to find the defendants guilty and to punish them accordingly.

He continued by saying that the Justices found the offenders guilty and handed down the appropriate sentences after hearing the pleas of both sides.

Olasupo and Babatunde received one-year prison terms each, while Taiwo received an eighteen-month sentence. Additionally, the following people completed six months of community service: Aremu, Solomon, Adedimeji, Sunday, Alabi, Ayomide, Mumeen, Olanrewaju, Olonitola, Obinna, Tajudeen, Onoapor, Opeyemi, Wemimo, Pelumi, Okwise, Olakunle, Adegoke, Oluwaseyi, Olanrewaju, Asekoni, David, and Tobiloba.

In addition, Mayowa received an eight-month community service term; Kayode, Ogbemudia, Olaide, Balogun, and Ojo received three-month sentences apiece; and Ayoola received two-month sentences.

The defendants were ordered by the courts to return all things seized from them, including eight exotic cars, to the Federal Government of Nigeria and to restitute their numerous victims.

The 33 prisoners’ journey to the Correctional Centre began when EFCC agents apprehended them at different points in the states of Oyo and Ogun.

Subsequent inquiries revealed that they were connected to other instances of crimes via the internet. After that, they faced charges in court and were found guilty.