Five internet fraudsters have been found guilty and sentenced by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Ilorin Zonal Command in front of Justices Adenike Akinpelu and Mahmoud Abdulgafar of the Kwara State High Court in Ilorin.
The defendants are Oyedepo Olamilekan Benjamin, Suleiman Saheed Olayinka, Fakeye Tolulope Emmanuel, Great Ukueni, and Adeshina Joseph Oluwaseun, according to a statement released by the anti-graft body on Saturday.
The defendants entered guilty pleas to the accusations against them that they had been prosecuted on separately before the judges.
Prosecuting attorneys Andrew Akoja, Mustapha Kaigama, and Isabel Adeniran described the events leading up to the defendants’ arrests after they entered guilty pleas. They begged the court to take into account the defendants’ plea, the extrajudicial declarations, and all of the presented evidence in order to find the accused guilty.
According to Justice Akinpelu’s ruling, Benjamin will serve a six-month prison sentence, with the option of a fine of N150,000 (one hundred and fifty thousand naira only). Additionally, the Federal Government will forfeit an Apple iPhone X, an HP laptop, and the $457 (four hundred and fifty seven US dollars) that Benjamin received as a result of his illegal activities.
Along with imposing a six-month prison term with a N100,000 (one hundred thousand naira) option, the judge also mandated that the Federal Government confiscate one Samsung A03 phone that was found on the guilty party.
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Justice Akinpelu also directed that the sum of $400 (four hundred United States dollars), one phone, and one laptop belonging to the convict be confiscated to the Federal Government. Emmanuel was also sentenced to six months in prison with the option of a fine of N100,000 (one hundred thousand Naira).
Conversely, Judge Abdulgafar ruled that Ukueni’s one Dell laptop, which the defendant had used as a tool of crime, must be forfeited and sentenced him to six months of imprisonment with a suspension.
The court also ordered the seizure of one iPhone 13 Promax and the sum of $250 (two hundred and fifty US dollars) that had been confiscated from Oluwaseun, as well as a term of six months in prison with the possibility of a fine of merely N100,000 (one hundred thousand Naira).
When EFCC agents detained the guilty for charges relating to the internet, all of the prisoners received lengthy prison sentences. Following investigations into their individual cases, they were prosecuted and found guilty.
