The Ibadan Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has secured the convictions of a corps member and 38 other persons for their involvement in internet-related crimes in Oyo and Ogun states.
The corps member, Osisi Ikenna Nicholas and 38 others were on a separate one-count charge each before Justices Bayo Taiwo, Omolara Adeyemi, Ladiran Akintola and Mohammed Owolabi of the Oyo State High Court, Ibadan and Justice Opeyemi Sobowale of the Ogun State High Court, Abeokuta between November 21, 2022 and November 25, 2022.
The Head of Media and Publicity of the Commission, Wilson Uwujaren, disclosed that Osisi was committed to one-month community service for his involvement in internet-related fraud, while the sentences for the 38 others range from a fine, to one to six months community service, and one year imprisonment.
In a statement, Uwujaren gave the names of the other convicts to include: Christopher Ehiabhi Ogbidi, Odewale Johnson Olumide, Akinade Adeyeye Gbolahan Muyiwa and Chukwudi Emeka Samuel.
Others are, Ehinmowo Stephen Segun, Emmanuel Oluchukwu, Aboaba Olawale Joshua, Akinba Oluwafemi Clement, Ayobami Temidayo Yusuf, Moshood Adeyinka Hammed, Gbolahan Oluwasegun Ogunseitan, Ojo Aduragbemi Emmanuel, Adeosun Amos Adeoye, Opeyemi Gbenga Omoyemi, Owolabi Gbadamosi Moses, Opeyemi Timilehin Akorede, Olawale Sodiq Adeniyi, Oluwaseun Samuel Aboaba, Abidemi Nasir Idris and Odewale Akindele Damilola.
The rest are, Afolabi Jamiu Oluwadamilare, Adekomaya Adedoyin Eniola, Kazeem Babajide Remilekun, Mustapha Adewumi Ayoade, Ajani Quareeb Ajibola, Aineribhokun Abel Ernest, Isaac Chinedu Isaiah, Christopher Osarhemen Ivuogbe, Dauda Kareem Oladayo, Basit Azeez Akande, Atilade Stephen Ogunniyi, Temidayo Emmanuel Eyinla, Ajuwon Omobola Ibrahim, Adisa Ibrahim Olasunkanmi, Akande Damilare Peter and Salami Victor Gbenga.
Uwujaren said all the convicts pleaded “guilty” to the charges filed against them by the EFCC.
“Upon their pleas, prosecution counsels, Modupe Akinkoye, Oyelakin Oyediran, Oluwatoyin Owodunni, Chidi Okoli, Musa Galadanchi, Shamsuddeen Bashir, Mabas Mabur and Abbulrasheed Suleiman reviewed the facts of the cases, tendered several documents in evidence and urged the courts to convict and sentence the defendants accordingly.
“Consequently, Ajuwon, Ogunseitan and Ogunniyi were convicted and sentenced to one year imprisonment each, Akinba to three months imprisonment while Salami, Akande Damilare, Aineribhokun, Odewale Akindele, Nasir, Akorede, Owolabi, Ojo and Makinde bagged six months community service each.”
Furthermore, he said that Adisa, Basit Azeez, Ivuogbe, Ajibola, Moshood and Yusuf were convicted and sentenced to five months of community service each; Eyinla, Isaac, Omoyemi, Ogbidi, Oluchukwu, Afolabi, Adekomaya, Ayoade, Oloyede and Olawale Joshua were sentenced to three months community service each, while Oladayo bagged four months community service.
Uwujaren revealed that Adeoye was convicted and sentenced to one-month imprisonment and one-month community service, Akinade to two months community service, Aboaba and Olawale to one-month community service each, while Odewale Johnson, Chukwudi and Ehinmowo were convicted and ordered to pay N150, 000 fine each.
He stated that the convicts were ordered to restitute their various victims and forfeit all items recovered from them to the Federal Government of Nigeria.
PIAK