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Tag: Internet fraudsters

  • 28 suspected internet fraudsters nabbed in Kwara

    28 suspected internet fraudsters nabbed in Kwara

    • •EFCC recovers seven exotic cars
    • Form Adekunle Jimoh, Ilorin

    Personnel of the Ilorin Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) yesterday arrested 28 suspected internet fraudsters in Ilorin, Kwara State.

    The arrests followed credible intelligence linking the suspects to cybercrime across the state capital, it was gathered.

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    The suspects were picked at Tanke, University Road, Oshin, and Agbabiaka areas.

    An EFCC source said “during the sting operation, seven exotic cars, including the latest model Toyota Corolla and a Lexus, two motorcycles, as well as expensive phones and laptops believed to be tools of the suspects’ illicit trade, were recovered from them.

    “The suspects would be arraigned in court upon the conclusion of the ongoing investigations,” the source added.

  • Courts jail 32 internet fraudsters in Ibadan

    Courts jail 32 internet fraudsters in Ibadan

    Justices Ladiran Akintola, O.S. Adeyemi, K.B. Olawoyin, G.A. Sunmonu of the Oyo State High Court and Justice Nkeonye Maha of the Federal High Court, sitting in Ibadan, Oyo state, have convicted and sentenced thirty-two persons to prison for fraud.  

    They were prosecuted by the Ibadan Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on separate one-count charges bordering on impersonation, internet-related offences.

    The convicts are: Kolade Olayinka Akinlosotu, Adetoro Kolawole Jelili, Olatunji Opeyemi Matthew, Ehifowoju Kehinde Emmanuel, Basit Akorede Mustapha, Banjoko Olamide Oriyomi, Badmus Quazeem Damilola, Ikumapayi Olalekan Babajide, Muili Olamilekan Sodiq, Odususi Yemi Michael, Ashiru Adebola Ibrahim, Ayomide Olamide Ogidan, Fatusin Michael Abayomi, Omotosho Oluwapelumi James, Adewale Ibikunle Abdullahi, Ismail Ibrahim Friday, Adedara Ademola Ayobami and Ajayi Elijah Oladimeji.

    Others are: Oladele Salam, Olasunkanmi Kadril Yakub, Ayomide Hassan Omolade, Ojo Oluwanifemi Emmanuel, Temitope Gbenga Agbaminoja, Oyewale Timileyin Ayodeji, Olajide Lekan Peter, Obaoye Samuel Olaoluwa, Ajayi Okiki Michael, Mustapha Quadri Ayinde, Oluwatimilehin Noah Ojo, Oluwajana Segun Joseph, Oluwashina Gbenga Adeniyi and Kolawole Ojukotimi Adebesin.

    The charge against Akinlosotu reads: “That you, Kolade Olayinka Akinlosotu sometime in May, 2023 at Ibadan, Oyo State, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, with intent to defraud one Orlando Mejia, did falsely represent yourself as one Amanda Smith, a woman from Texas, United States of America through Facebook with account name Amanda Smith, thereby committed an offence of impersonation, contrary to Section 484 of the Criminal Code Cap 38, Laws of Oyo State, 2000.”

    They all pleaded “guilty” when the charges were read to them, upon which prosecution counsel, Modupe Akinkoye, Oluwatoyin Owodunni, Chidi Okoli, Sanusi Galadanchi, Lanre Suleiman, Mabas Mabur, Shamsuddeen Bashir, David Olubode and A.M. Aliyu prayed the court to convict and sentence them accordingly.

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    Consequently, Justice Olawoyin convicted and sentenced Peter to two years imprisonment or to pay N500, 000 fine, and Ayodeji to one year imprisonment or to pay N250, 000 fine, while Justice Maha convicted and sentenced Abayomi to one year imprisonment or to pay N250, 000 fine.

    Justice Adeyemi on her part, convicted and sentenced Oriyomi and Ibrahim to one year imprisonment each without option of fine. Ayobami, Abdullahi and Ayinde bagged six months community service each, without an option of fine. She convicted and sentenced Ojo, Mustapha and Adebesin to three months community service each without option of fine.

    Justice Akintola convicted and slammed Oladimeji, Joseph and Olaoluwa with one year jail term each or to pay a fine of N50, 000, N40, 000, and N150, 000 respectively.

    He slammed Adeniyi with six months jail term or to pay N150, 000 fine, while Jelili bagged six months community service or to pay N150, 000 fine. Michael and Olamide got three months jail term each or to pay N50, 000 fine, each.

    Also convicted and sentenced by Justice Akintola were Kehinde Emmanuel, Babajide, Sodiq, James, Salam, Yakub, Omolade, Oluwanifemi Emmanuel, Agbaminoja, Okiki Michael and Friday who bagged three months of community service each or to pay N50, 000, N50, 000, N75, 000, N50, 000, N75, 000, N40, 000, N50, 000, N40, 000, N40, 000, N30, 000 and N50, 000 respectively.

    Furthermore, Justice Akintola convicted and sentenced Matthew and Damilola to a fine of N30, 000 and N50, 000 respectively.

    Justice Sunmonu convicted and sentenced Akinlosotu to three months community service without an option of fine.

    Besides their sentences, all the convicts forfeited items recovered from them to the federal government. 

    These include money, phones and laptop computers. Others are a green-coloured Toyota Camry 2205 model car with registration number: EPE – 232 – GU recovered from Oriyomi, a wine-coloured Toyota Camry vehicle with registration number: MUS – 84 – GU recovered from Ibrahim, a red-coloured Toyota Corolla car with chassis number: 2T1BU4EE3AC495391, recovered from Olaoluwa, a black-coloured Toyota Camry car with registration number: MUS – 683 – HJ, recovered from Adeniyi and a golden-coloured Toyota Camry vehicle with chassis number: 411BE46KX8U203665 recovered from Abdullahi.

    In addition, the court ordered that Ayobami pay the sum of N2.5million as restitution to his victim.

  • 25 internet fraudsters jailed in Oyo, Osun

    25 internet fraudsters jailed in Oyo, Osun

    Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC), Ibadan Zonal Command, has secured the conviction of 25 internet fraudsters before seven judges, in Federal and state High Courts, in Ibadan, Oyo State and Osogbo, Osun State.

    The convicts are Tomiwa Olumide Ayodele, Adeniyi Kehinde Nuhu, Adeniyi Warris Adegbola, Toyeeb Abayomi Ijadunola, Isiah Akinyele kehinde, Oluwadunsin Johnson Alabi, Muis Lawal Gbolahan, Adeyinka Kola Adeleye, Sodiq Iyanu Babatunde, Ojo Blessing Adeniyi, Akinrinwoye Victor Olamide, Olaloye Olanrewaju Kinsley, Daniel Olashile Maiye and Omolade Opeyemi Oluwaseyi.

    Others are Olamide Adekunle Adeoye, Kazeem Makinde Olawale, Malik Olamilekan Ayoade, Emmanuel Ayomide Ojubanire, Dada Bamidele John, Henry Ogochukwu Ikeh, Faruq Omoleye Adeola, Oluyole Ayobami Emmanuel, Ayodele Micheal Damilola, Adaramoye Abayomi, and Yussuf Quadri Abiodun.

    According to a statement by EFCC Head, Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale said the convicts were prosecuted on one-count separate charge, excepting Nuhu who faced two counts.

    He said their charges involved impersonation, cheating, possession of fraudulent documents and obtaining by false pretence.

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    The charge against Abiodun reads: “That you, Yussuf Quadri Abiodun ‘M’, sometimes in May 2024 at Ede, Osun State, within the jurisdiction of this court, with intent to gain advantage for yourself impersonated one Josh Rita, a female from United States through Facebook Account to one Jesus Valdez, wherein you obtained $1420 USD on the pretext you knew to be false, thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 22(2)(b)(i) and punishable under Section 22(2)(b)(iv) of the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention etc.) (Amendment) Act, 2024.”

    That of Abayomi reads: “That you, Adaramoye Abayomi ‘M’ on or about 20th May, 2024 within the jurisdiction of this court, with intent to gain advantage for yourself, falsely impersonated one Greg Fernando, a male from the United States through Tiktok Account with username @greg4082 and chatted with one Ann Wesley and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 22(2)(b)(i) and punishable under Section 22(2)(b)(iv) of the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention etc.) (Amendment) Act, 2024.”

  • Courts jail 25 internet fraudsters in Oyo, Osogbo

    Courts jail 25 internet fraudsters in Oyo, Osogbo

    The Ibadan zonal command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has secured the conviction and sentencing of 25 internet fraudsters before seven different judges in Federal and State High Courts in Ibadan, Oyo State, and Osogbo, Osun State.

    The convicts are Tomiwa Olumide Ayodele, Adeniyi Kehinde Nuhu, Adeniyi Warris Adegbola, Toyeeb Abayomi Ijadunola, Isiah Akinyele Kehinde, Oluwadunsin Johnson Alabi, Muis Lawal Gbolahan, Adeyinka Kola Adeleye, Sodiq Iyanu Babatunde, Ojo Blessing Adeniyi, Akinrinwoye Victor Olamide, Olaloye Olanrewaju Kingsley, Daniel Olashile Maiye, and Omolade Opeyemi Oluwaseyi.

    Others include Olamide Adekunle Adeoye, Kazeem Makinde Olawale, Malik Olamilekan Ayoade, Emmanuel Ayomide Ojubanire, Dada Bamidele John, Henry Ogochukwu Ikeh, Faruq Omoleye Adeola, Oluyole Ayobami Emmanuel, Ayodele Michael Damilola, Adaramoye Abayomi, and Yussuf Quadri Abiodun.

    According to a statement by EFCC head of media and publicity, Dele Oyewale the convicts were prosecuted on one-count separate charges, except Nuhu who faced two-count charges.

    He said their charges bordered on impersonation, cheating, possession of fraudulent documents and obtaining by false pretence.

    The charge against Abiodun reads: “That you, Yussuf Quadri Abiodun ‘M’, sometime in May 2024 at Ede, Osun State, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, with intent to gain advantage for yourself impersonated one Josh Rita, a female from United States of America through Facebook Account to one Jesus Valdez, wherein you obtained the sum of $1420 USD (One Thousand, Four Hundred and Twenty United States of America Dollars) the pretext you knew to be false and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 22(2)(b)(i) and punishable under Section 22(2)(b)(iv) of the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention etc.) (Amendment) Act, 2024.”

    That of Abayomi reads: “That you, Adaramoye Abayomi ‘M’ on or about 20th May 2024 within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, with intent to gain advantage for yourself, falsely impersonated one Greg Fernando, a male from the United States of America through Tiktok Account with username @greg4082 and chatted with one Ann Wesley and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 22(2)(b)(i) and punishable under Section 22(2)(b)(iv) of the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention etc.) (Amendment) Act, 2024.”

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    They all pleaded “guilty” to their charges when they were read to them, upon which prosecution counsel: Oluwatoyin Owodunni, Modupe Akinkoye, Oyelakin Oyediran, Sanusi Galadanchi, Lanre Suleiman, Mabas Mabur, Shamsuddeen, Umar Abiso, Abiddeen Muhammad, Adamu Sahabi, Fatima Baba, David Olubode and Favour Adewunmi prayed the courts to convict and sentence them accordingly.

    Justice M. Salisu of the Osun State High Court, sitting in Osogbo convicted and sentenced Ayodele, Nuhu, Adegbola and Ijadunola to one-year imprisonment each or to pay a fine of N1million (One Million Naira) each. Nuhu forfeited a Toyota Camry car, 2005 Model with Registration number: APP – 572 – GR to the federal government and also to restitute the sum of N415,000.00 (Four Hundred and Fifteen Thousand Naira) to his victim. Ijadunola forfeited a grey-coloured Toyota Camry car to the federal government and to restitute the sum of N2,500,000.00 (Two Million, Five Hundred Thousand Naira) to his victim.

    He also convicted and sentenced Kehinde to a one-year jail term or to pay a fine of N500,000.00 (Five Hundred Thousand Naira) and slammed Alabi with six months imprisonment or to pay a fine of N300,000.00 (Three Hundred Thousand Naira) Abayomi got six months imprisonment or to pay a fine of N250,000.00 (Two Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira), while Abiodun bagged eight months imprisonment or to pay a fine of N500, 000.00 (Five Hundred Thousand Naira).

    He forfeited his grey-coloured TVS motorcycle. Justice Ladiran Akintola of the Oyo State High Court, sitting in Ibadan convicted and sentenced Gbolahan, Adeleye and Babatunde to three months of community service each or to pay a fine of N30,000.00 (Thirty Thousand Naira) fine each.

    Justice Nathaniel Ayo-Emmanuel of the Osun State High Court, sitting in Osogbo convicted and sentenced Adeniyi, Olamide and Kinsley to a six-month jail term each. Adeniyi was given N500,000.00 (Five Hundred Thousand Naira) option of a fine, while Olamide and Kinsley were given N300,000.00 (Three Hundred Thousand Naira) option of a fine, respectively. Oluwaseyi bagged a one-year jail term without an option of fine from the judge and Maiye two weeks imprisonment.

    Justice Ayo-Emmanuel also convicted and sentenced Adeoye and gave him N200,000.00 (Two Hundred Thousand Naira) option of fine. He jailed Olawale, John, and Ayoade for three months each or to pay a fine of N250,000.00 (Two Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira), N200,000.00 (Two Hundred Thousand Naira) and N300,000.00, (Three Hundred Thousand Naira), respectively. Ojubanire got two months imprisonment from the judge or to pay a fine of N200,000.00 (Two Hundred Thousand Naira).

    Justice M. Ishola of the Oyo State High Court, sitting in Ibadan convicted and sentenced Ikeh to six months of community service, while Justice Bayo Taiwo convicted and sentenced Adeola to five months of community service in addition to paying a fine of N100,000. 00 (One Hundred Thousand Naira).

    Justice E.U. Akpan of the Federal High Court, sitting in Ibadan, Oyo State convicted and sentenced Emmanuel and Damilola to one-year imprisonment or to pay a fine of N150,000. 00 (One Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira) each.

    The convicts forfeited all items recovered from them to the federal government.

    Their road to prison began with their arrest in a sting operation, carried out in Signatures Elixir and Alba Royale Clubhouses in Akure, Ondo State and Ede, Osun State by operatives of the Ibadan Zonal Command of the EFCC following credible intelligence on their fraudulent internet activities in both states.

  • Oyo courts jail 36 internet fraudsters in Ibadan

    Oyo courts jail 36 internet fraudsters in Ibadan

    The Ibadan Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), has secured the conviction and sentence of 36 internet fraudsters to various jail terms before Justices Uche Agomoh and E.U. Akpan of the Federal High Court, Ibadan, Oyo State;  Ladiran Akintola, K.B. Olawoyin, Bayo Taiwo and O.S. Adeyemi of the Oyo State High Court in Ibadan.

    The convicts are Ayodele Victor Ayodeji; Adebayo Kazeem Akanbi; Ajayi Charles Temitayo; Rokeeb Olamide Taiwo; Olaleye Adedolapo Emmanuel; Emiade Azeez Ayotunde; Azeez Ademola; Afolabi Mayowa Akinbobola; Shittu Waheed Adeleke; Franklyn Ibeh Kelechi; Olanrewaju Olaitan Quadri; Olawale Elijah Seyi Awofolaju; Samuel Olayemi Ademeso; Akindele Timothy Olatunde; Sholeye Gideon Olamilekan; Waheed Olamide Ahmod; Lawal Paul Jelili ;Asaju Muhammad Numan and Badejo Adefemi Emmanuel.

    Others are: Gomina Dennis Ozaveshe; Adio Hassan Taiwo; Adio Kehinde Hozaine; Adewunmi Adeboye Gabriel; John Oluwatimilehin Moses; Odeniyi Faruk Idowu; Owodunni Monsuru Abiodun; Sanwiyu Niyi Owonifari; Adeyinka Adewale Olujobi’; Ogunbiyi Segun Joseph; Ayomide Oniyitan Oluwatosin; Badmus Faruk Kayode; Jimoh Sylvester Enahoro; Azeta Sunday Osaremeh; Lukuman Olatemo; Emmanuel Ebgiri Ogah and Ayomide Ibrahim Ishola.

    The charge against Ayomide Ibrahim Ishola read in part: “That you, Ayomide Ibrahim Ishola on or about October 2018, in Ibadan within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, falsely represented yourself as a female from the United States of America with the name Lawrence Janet to one Ralph Wells via your Google Chat account, which representation you knew to be false and thereby committed an offence of impersonation contrary to Section 484 of the Criminal Code Law Cap 38, Laws of Oyo State, 2000.”

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    They were jailed after pleading guilty to one-count separate charges bordering on obtaining by false pretence, possession of fraudulent documents, impersonation and aiding in committing an offence upon arraignment by the Ibadan Zonal Command of the EFCC between April 24 and May 29, 2024.

    All the defendants pleaded guilty to their respective charges when they were read to them in court as prosecution counsel:  Oluwatoyin Owodunni, Modupe Akinkoye, Oyelakin Oyediran, Sanusi Galadanchi, Lanre Suleiman, Mabas Mabur, Shamsuddeen, Umar Abiso, Abiddeen Muhammad, Adamu Sahabi, Fatima Baba, David Olubode and Favour Adewunmi prayed the court to convict and sentence them accordingly.

    Consequently, Justice Agomoh convicted and sentenced Joseph, Oluwatosin, and Kayode to one-year imprisonment each without an option of fine, Enahoro to ten months imprisonment, while Osaremeh bagged six months imprisonment and Olatemo to four months imprisonment without an option of fine.

    Also, Justice Akpan convicted and sentenced Owonifari to one and a half years imprisonment and Abiodun to one year imprisonment or a fine of N100,000.

    Also, Justice Olawoyin convicted and sentenced Ishola to one and a half years imprisonment or a fine of N1.5 million and Olujobi bagged six months imprisonment or a fine of N400,000.

    Justice Adeyemi convicted and sentenced Hozaine, Gabriel, Idowu, and Ogah to six months of community service each without an option of fine, as Idowu forfeited a silver coloured Toyota Camry car with registration number: GBE – 334 – AE to the Federal Government of Nigeria.

    Justice Taiwo convicted and sentenced Ozaveshe to four months community service or a fine of N150,000 and Taiwo to five months community service or a fine of N150,000.

    Justice Akintola convicted and sentenced Adedolapo Emmanuel, Ayotunde, Ademola, Kelechi, Quadri, and Moses to one-year imprisonment each or fines of N50, 000; N100, 000; N20, 000; N30, 000; N150, 000 and N120, 000 respectively.

    Also, Justice Akintola convicted and sentenced Olamide Taiwo, Akinbobola, and Adefemi Emmanuel to six months of community service each or fines of N50, 000; N150, 000 and N60, 000 respectively.

    Justice Akintola convicted and sentenced Ayodeji, Akanbi, and Adeleke to three months of community service each or a fine of N20,000.00 each, while Temitayo, Awofolaju, and Jelili bagged three months of community service each or a fine of N30, 000 each.

    Also, Olamilekan, Ahmod and Numan were convicted and sentenced to three months community service each or a fine of N25,000 each, while Ademeso also bagged three months of community service or a fine of N50,000 and Olatunde to three months of community service or a fine of N40, 000.

  • Internet fraudsters and the imperative of restorative justice

    Internet fraudsters and the imperative of restorative justice

    • By Mbang Confidence

    No society is free from crime, technological advancement and the uses of the internet of things (IoTs), have broaden the horizons of cybercrimes. In Nigeria, internet fraud is fondly called “yahoo” while persons involved are called “yahoo boys or girls.”

    Recently, Ola Olukoyede, chairman of the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC), narrated his encounter with a young fraudster who wowed him by displaying his skill and expertise on internet fraud. Speaking at a press conference in Abuja, the anti-graft chief noted that the boy was able to decipher his banking details, including the Bank Verification Number (BVN), by just knowing his mobile phone number. When the boy was asked the reasons for indulging in same, he said he was the one feeding his parents and responsible for the tuition of his younger ones. What a revelation? This is truly the same reason why so many youths engage in fraud. The alarming rate of poverty amongst the youths is pitiable and regrettable.

     It should be noted that this not the first time a chief of the anti-graft commission is agitating for rehabilitation of fraudsters. In 2019, Ibrahim Magu, while delivering a paper titled: “Strategic Change Administration and Innovation to Curb Corruption in Nigeria,” noted that “internet fraudsters could be useful to the agency in the future, and that they will be rehabilitated.” This was around the period the EFCC reportedly arrested 94 internet fraudsters in a raid at a nightclub in Osogbo, Osun State capital.

    In 2022, during a meeting with Citizenship and Leadership Training Centre officials (CLTC), Abdulrasheed Bawa, while hinting on the need to rehabilitate convicted fraudster, said “I do not derive joy in the arrest, investigation and prosecution of thousands of youths in productive ages, but the job must be done.”

     Also, NGOs/CSOs have continued to agitate for the rehabilitation of fraudsters, and the need to alter the punishment to exclude imprisonment. In 2019, during the unveiling of Velma Action to Reduce Cybercrimes, the Director General noted that imprisonment term as punishment for fraudsters have not helped to address the problem, rather rehabilitation is the best. 

    Now, I should not be misconstrued to mean internet fraudsters should not be sent to prison – No. A recidivist internet fraudster can be sent to prison, this is because, he is no longer a first time offender, and still persist in the criminal act. But a first time offender should be given a non-custodial punishment, accompanied with rehabilitation. In other words, the convicts should undergo rehabilitation in the course of the non-custodial sentence if not he may not stop committing the crime. 

    Concerns may also be raised as to the fate of the victims, since justice is for the state, victim, and offender. It is recommended that lawmakers should also resort to restorative justice as the best bet to put the victim in the same position he/she would have been, but not for the fraud. If fraudsters reap not from the benefit of their work, and then undergo rehabilitation, they may naturally decide to give up on fraud. Relevant stakeholders should ponder on this recommendations and effect alterations on our adversarial and substantive criminal legislations, in the absence of which the courts should readily develop the law through judicial precedence. 

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    To appreciate this line of reasoning, it must be noted that our courts are empowered to exercise judicial discretion in sentencing, and same must be applied judiciously and judicially. The Administration of Criminal Justice Act, particularly section 401 outlines the objectives of sentencing; prevention, restraint, rehabilitation, deterrence, education, retribution and restitution. In addition, section 416 prescribes the factors a court must take into consideration, and of course, a first time offender should not be given the maximum sentence 416(2)(d), and by sub 2(k); sentencing to a term of imprisonment shall apply only to those offenders who should be isolated from society and with whom other forms of punishment have failed or is likely to fail.

     Now this: in respect of internet fraudsters, can we say that other forms of punishment have failed or are likely to fail? Or are we now saying that an internet fraudster should naturally be isolated? 

    It is best we embrace rehabilitation which should involve psychological approaches to morality and cognitive sanity, literacy skills and work training. It is also necessary for lawmakers, the courts and other actors to think restorative justice. Moreover, in the light of the prison decongestion programme by the federal government, sentencing youths to prison for internet fraud would only help to further congest our prisons.

    Adopting the statement of Lord Denning MR, regarding the attitude of the Courts, which I deem necessary for our lawmakers: “If we do not do something just because it has never been done before; the law will stand still and will not develop; while the rest of the world moves ahead. This will be bad for both.” At this juncture, there is no gainsaying that our security outfits may benefit from these fraudsters if they are rehabilitated. There should be a strategic synergy between the relevant law enforcement agencies, the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCS), and the judiciary on the way forward. Rehabilitation and restorative justice is better than imprisonment.

    •Confidence, Esq. writes via Mbangconfidence714@gmail.com

  • 41 internet fraudsters jailed in Anambra

    41 internet fraudsters jailed in Anambra

    A Federal High Court sitting in Onitsha, Anambra State, presided over by Justices S. M. Shuaibu and Hauwa Inuwa, has convicted and sentenced 41 internet fraudsters to one-year imprisonment, each.

    The convicts were jailed after they pleaded guilty to one-count separate charges bordering on obtaining by false pretence, possession of fraudulent documents, impersonation and aiding in committing an offence upon arraignment by the Enugu Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

    The convicts are Douglas James, Raphael Chikezie Uwakwe, Paul Chidera Kalu, Chisom Linus, Chiemezie Nweke, Eze Ugochukwu Stanley, Ndubuisi Nwafor, Ifeanyi  Samuel, Nwosu Chukwuemeka, Madueke Emmanuel, Edozie Daniel Timothy, Ahmed Fredrick Lukman, Godwin Chukwuemelie Julius, Okafor Vincent Chiemerie, Ugochukwu Raphael Ena, Chukwuemeka Franklin Obiji, Chimaobi Emmanuel Gabriel, Abonyi Chibuike Jude, Chiemelie Igboekwuna Christian and Okafor Chukwuma Desmaond.

    Others include Jezreel Arihiakamah Chinwendu, Paul Okereke Chiadi, Peter Chidera Iwu, Onyeji Victor Chinecherem, Tochukwu Eze Solomon, Fred Chidera Okoye, Ezema Chiemerie Stanley, Emeka Ogbonna Daniel, Obinna Stanley Okafor, Udochukwu Peter Nnaewezie, Ebuka Johnson Olu, Okochi Ebuka Stanley, Promise Ogbodo Echezona, Ebuka Chukwu Joshua, Chisom Henry Udeagwueze, Ihechi Okechukwu Bright, Chibueze Maxwell Stephen, Ebuka Lucky Nwankwo, Isah Chinonso Peter, Ifeanyi Oguoke Kingsley and Chinonso Eze Innocent.

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    One of the charges read: “That you, Uwakwe Chikezie Raphael sometime in 2024 in Onitsha, Anambra State within the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court in Nigeria,  impersonated the identity of Everly Ruby, a female foreigner through a Google account, via your iphone X with the intent to obtain money from unsuspecting foreign nationals and to gain advantage of yourself and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 22 (3) (a) (b) of the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention etc) Act, 2015 and punishable under Section 22 (4) of the same Act”.

    All the defendants pleaded “guilty” to the charges. Michael Ikechukwu Ani, counsel to the EFCC prayed the court to convict and sentence them.

    However,  the defence counsel, Wisdom Ogbonna, Bernard Okeke, James Nwatarali and Arinze Anyigo pleaded the court for leniency and to temper justice with mercy in sentencing their clients, adding that they have shown enough remorse for their actions.

    Justice Inuwa convicted and sentenced 27 of the convicts while the rest 14 were convicted later. Those convicted on May 3 are Chiadi, Samuel, Chinecherem, Timothy, Stanley, Bright, Iwu, Lukman, Nweke, Chukwuemeka, Okafor, Stephen, Chiemerie and Christian to one-year imprisonment each with an option of fine of N100,000.

    The Justices also ordered that the convicts should be involved in Community Service in line with Section 462 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act and ordered that items recovered from them, which include their mobile phones and laptops be auctioned through the EFCC and proceeds paid into the Treasury Single Account(TSA).

    All the convicts bagged their imprisonment when they were arrested for their involvement in internet fraud.

  • Court jails seven internet fraudsters in Ogun, Oyo

    Court jails seven internet fraudsters in Ogun, Oyo

    The Ibadan Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has secured the conviction and sentencing of seven internet fraudsters to various jail terms.

    The head, media and publicity of the commission, Dele Oyewale in a statement gave the names of the convicts as Adio Peter Olakunle, Adebanjo Oluwafemi Samuel, Ezekiel Papi Kolawole, Lukman Olakunle Alabi, Sakiru Olamilekan Usman, Godwin Moses Abaka and Amosu Oladele Gbenon were arraigned on one -count separate charge each before Justices M.O. Ishola, O.A. Lajide of the Oyo State High Court sitting in Ibadan and S.O. Adeniyi of the Ogun State High Court, Abeokuta.

    One of the charges reads: “That you, Amosu Oladele Gbenonu, ‘M’  on or about 12th of October, 2023 in Ibadan within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court with intent to defraud one Karl Ackman, did falsely represent yourself to be Sarah Williams, a white woman from the United States of America with google account sarah.dawkwills241@gmail.com which representation you knew to be false, thereby committed the offence of Personation contrary to Section 484 of the Criminal Code Law Cap 38, Laws of Oyo State, 2000.”

    The defendants pleaded “guilty” to the charges preferred against them by the EFCC.

    Consequently, the facts of the cases were reviewed and several incriminating documents were tendered before the courts by the prosecution counsels, urging the courts to convict and sentence the defendants accordingly.

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    After listening to the prayers of counsels, Justice Lajide convicted and sentenced Gbenonu, Abaka, Usman, and Kolawole to six months of community service each, while Alabi was sentenced to two months of community service.

    Also, Justice Ishola convicted and sentenced Samuel to six months of community service, and Justice Adeniyi sentenced Olakunle to four months of community service.

    Furthermore, Justice Lajide ordered Gbenonu to pay the sum of N2 million, Abaka to pay N1 million, Usman to pay N800,000, and Kolawole to pay the sum of N400,000 as fines alongside their jail terms respectively.

     Also, the convicts were ordered to restitute their various victims and forfeit all items recovered from them to the federal government of Nigeria.

    They began their journey to the Correctional Centre when they were arrested by operatives of the Ibadan Zonal Command of the EFCC for internet-related offences.

    They were investigated, prosecuted, and convicted.

  • Court jails 33 internet fraudsters in Oyo, Ogun

    Court jails 33 internet fraudsters in Oyo, Ogun

    The Ibadan zonal command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has secured the conviction and sentencing of 33 internet fraudsters to various jail terms.

    The convicts were jailed by Justices Ladiran Akintola, Adebukola Olajide, and M.O. Ishola of the Oyo State High Court, Ibadan; Justice B.B. Adebowale of the Ogun State High Court sitting in Abeokuta and Justice Uche Agomoh of the Federal High Court, Ibadan, Oyo state.

    They were arraigned on one-count separate charges bordering on cybercrimes.

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

    Others are: Oladokun Abeeb Olaide, Precious Akinwale Balogun, Adebari Sodiq Wemimo, Ogunleye Ridwan Babatunde, Akinrinola Emmanuel Pelumi, Odigwe Victory Okwise, Seyitan David Ojo, Oyinwola Micheal Olakunle, Adewale Ibrahim Adegoke, Odunton Durojaiye Oluwaseyi, Opaleye Ramadan Olanrewaju, Tolulope Adedoyin Asekoni, Oyewole Gideon David and Asogbon Emmanuel Tobiloba.

    The lone-count separate charge reads: “That you, Opaleye Ramadan Olanrewaju ‘M’ on or about 4th February 2020, at Ibadan, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, with intent to defraud one Micheal via your Instagram account Catherine falsely represented yourself as Catherine a white woman from the United States of America which representation you knew to be false, thereby committed the offence of Personation contrary to Section 484 of the Criminal Code Law Cap 38, Laws of Oyo State, 2000.”

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    The commission’s head of media and publicity, Dele Oyewale in a statement said all the suspects pleaded “guilty” to the charge when it was read to them.

    Consequently, prosecution counsel tendered facts of the cases and indicting documents before the courts. They also prayed the courts to convict and sentence the defendants as charged.

    He added that the Justices, having listened to the prayers of both parties, convicted and sentenced the defendants accordingly.

    Taiwo was sentenced to eighteen months imprisonment, Olasupo and Babatunde to a one-year jail term each. Also, Aremu, Solomon, Adedimeji, Sunday, Alabi, Ayomide, Mumeen, Olanrewaju, Olonitola, Obinna, Tajudeen, Onoapor, Opeyemi, Wemimo, Pelumi, Okwise, Olakunle, Adegoke, Oluwaseyi, Olanrewaju, Asekoni, David and Tobiloba bagged six months community service each.

    Furthermore, Mayowa was sentenced to eight months of community service while Kayode, Ogbemudia, Olaide, Balogun, and Ojo bagged three months of community service each and Ayoola to two months of community service.

    The courts ordered that the convicts restitute their various victims, and forfeit all items recovered from them to the Federal Government of Nigeria including eight exotic vehicles.

    All 33 convicts started their journey to the Correctional Centre when they were arrested in various locations in Oyo and Ogun states by operatives of the EFCC.

    Further investigations showed that they were involved in different cases of internet-related crimes. They were subsequently charged to court and convicted.

  • Six jailed for internet fraud

    The Ibadan Zonal Office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, on Thursday, secured the conviction of six internet fraudsters in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital.

    Justices Mohammed Abubakar and Ibrahim Watilat of the Federal High Court, Abeokuta Division handed down the verdicts.

    The convicts are: Ibrahim Adenekan, Akinniyi Bankole Ojumu, Amoo Hammeed Olamide, Oshoala Abayomi Ganiu, Opaaje Oluwatobi Isiah and Ibukun Sunday.

    They were all found guilty of the respective one-count amended charges filed to replace the original charges against them, having reached an agreement with the Commission on plea bargaining.

    Ibrahim pleaded guilty to fraudulent impersonation, an offence contrary to Section 22 (2)(b)(i) of the Cybercrime Prohibition Prevention Act 2015 and punishable under the same Act.

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    For Akinniyi, the crime was sending pornographic and indecent pictures with his email account. The offence is against Section 24(1)(a) of the Cybercrime Prohibition Prevention Act 2015, and punishable under Section 24(1)(b) of the same Act.

    The presiding judge sentenced Opaaje based on his guilty plea to the fraudulent impersonation offence file against him.

    Each of the convicts bagged three months jail term starting from their time of arrest.

    Besides the jail term, the convicts were ordered to restitute to their victims the money they fraudulently collected from them, and also forfeit all the items recovered from them to the Federal government of Nigeria.