Yinka Adeniran, Ibadan
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibadan Zonal Office, has arrested 17 suspected internet fraudsters, including five persons who claimed to be students of the Federal Polytechnic, Ado Ekiti, Ekiti State.
The suspects were arrested on Monday in Ado-Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital, following the receipt of intelligence reports detailing the suspects’ alleged involvement in internet fraud and other related offences.
Operatives of the Commission in the zone had conducted preliminary investigations to ascertain the merit of the allegations against the suspects.
After establishing substantive facts, the EFCC sprang into action and arrested the suspects on Monday.
Read Also: CBN Mutilated Notes: N900m did not disappear in EFCC Custody
Some items used in perpetrating the crime were recovered from them and registered as exhibits to be tendered in court.
The suspects will be charged to court as soon as investigations are concluded.
Also, the anti-graft agency said it has arraigned six suspected internet fraudsters before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court, Ibadan Judicial Division.
The accused persons are Hammed Muftau Adewale, Hammed Adebola Tobiloba, Olagunju Olayiwola Ojo, Adeagbo Adedeji Rasheed Abiodun, Arowojobe Taoreed Oluwaseun and Babatunde Abdulkudus Akorede.
The defendants were arraigned separately on sundry charges that border on forgery, fake representation, obtaining money under false pretences and internet-fraud related offences.
They all pleaded not guilty to the respective charges when read to them.
Following their plea, EFCC counsels prayed the court for trial dates and orders to remand the suspects in prison, pending the next adjourned dates for their cases.
The presiding judge granted the prayer as she adjourned the cases against Arowojobe, Babatunde and Hammed Muftau to October 21, 2019 for trial and/or plea bargain, while ordering that they be remanded at the Nigerian Correctional Service, Agodi.
For Hammed Adebola, Olagunju and Babatunde, their trial and/or plea bargain was scheduled for October 30. They are also to be remanded in the same prison till the adjourned date.
Leave a Reply