Anti-Graft Agency Secures Conviction Of 13 Internet Fraudsters in Oyo State

The Ibadan Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), has, within two days secured the convictions of 13 cybercriminals before Justices Olusola Adetujoye and Bayo Taiwo of the Oyo State High Court, Ibadan.

Twelve of the convicts were prosecuted before Justice Adetujoye on separate one-count charges each, while the thirteenth one was before Justice Taiwo.

Convicts

The convicts are Azeez Olatunji, Tofunmi Oyebade, Yusuf Abiodun, Elegbede Timileyin and Odewumi Olamilekan.

Others are, Abiodun Kolawole, Uthman Olamilekan, Ridwan Oluwatobi, Showemimo Abiodun, Saliu Akanji, Owie Kelvin, Ugwu Ogbonna and Olaoye James.

Upon their arraignment, they all pleaded “guilty” to the charges filed against them by the anti-graft agency.

Consequently, prosecution counsels, Oyelakin Oyediran, Sanusi Galadanchi, Samsudeen Bashir and Mabas Mabur reviewed the facts of the cases and urged the courts to convict and sentence the defendants accordingly.

Justice Taiwo convicted and sentenced Olatunji to six months of community service, while Justice Adetujoye convicted and sentenced Oyebade, Yusuf Akorede, Elegbede, Kolawole, Uthman and Owie to two months of community service each.

Also, Justice Adetujoye sentenced Ridwan, Akanji and Ogbonna to three months of community service each, while Odewumi and Showemimo were sentenced to one month of community service each.

A statement by the Head of Media and Publicity of the EFCC, Wilson Uwujaren said: “The courts ordered that the convicts restitute their various victims and forfeit all items recovered from them to the Federal Government of Nigeria.”

Olusola Akintonde