The Ibadan Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has secured the conviction and sentencing of 41 internet fraudsters to various jail terms in Oyo and Ogun states, Southwest Nigeria.
The fraudsters were jailed after pleading guilty to a one-count charge each preferred against them by the EFCC.
According to the Head of Media and Publicity of the EFCC, Dele Oyewale, in a statement, Justices Ladiran Akintola and Adebukola Olajide of the Oyo State High Court sitting in Ibadan, Justices Abiodun Akinyemi, A.A. Babawale, and B.B. Adebowale of the Ogun State High Court, Abeokuta, and Justice Uche Agomoh of the Federal High Court, Ibadan, Oyo State, jailed the 41 convicts.
The convicts are Siyanbade Timilehin Omobosola, Ilugbo Emmanuel Adekunle, Odude Ayomide Michael, Aderounmu Gbenga Michael, Oluwole David Dare, Habeeblahi Abdullateef Akande, Ololade Sunday Olamide, Ibrahim Victor Abayomi, Adewusi Mojeed Adedeji, Afeez Lekan Jimoh, Peter Seyi Iyanuoluwa, Olatunde Abass, Alan-Oni Joseph Opeyemi, Adetunji Abolaji Adeola, and Ogunmola Oluwabori Michael.
Others are Ajayi Raymond Damilare, Cyril Stephen Oluwaseyi, Adekunle Solomon, Olalekan Taoreed Miller, Oladipupo Imoleayo Falohun, Moboluwaduro Olalekan Soetan, Ibikunle Oluwadamilare James, Olumoroti Ayomide Segun, Fetuga Olajide Abiodun, Agbolade Mayowa Oluwafemi, Felix Folorunsho Ayodele, Dauda Rokeeb Opeyemi, Adeife Adeleke Oluwasegun, Agbe Simon Abuo, and Alonge Timileyin Israel.
The rest are: Lasisi Hassan Ayobami, Olakode Ajibola Ibrahim, Ogundiya Fredrick Olajide, Emmanuel Chidi Peter, Ayanmo Taiwo Wasiu, Daud Sodiq Temidayo, Hammed Ibrahim Ola, Adenuga Tope Lekan, Ibrahim Odewande Olasumbo, Adekunle Habeeb Olamilekan, and Monday Blessing Patrick.
Oyewale, in the statement, added that upon their arraignment, the fraudsters all pleaded “guilty” to the one-count charge when it was read to them individually.
The statement reads in part: “Consequently, the facts of the cases were reviewed by the prosecution as they prayed the courts to convict and sentence the defendants accordingly.
“The courts, having listened to the submissions and prayers of the prosecution and defence counsels, convicted and sentenced Patrick, Olasumbo, Lekan, Ola, Temidayo, Olajide, Ibrahim, Ayobami, Israel, James, Soetan, Solomon, and Oluwaseyi to one-year imprisonment each, while Olamilekan was sentenced to a nine-month jail term and Falohun to ten months imprisonment.
“Also, Wasiu, Peter, Oluwafemi, Abiodun, and Olumoroti bagged three months imprisonment each, but Oluwafemi, Abiodun, and Olumoroti were given the option of a N50,000 fine each in lieu of their sentences.
“Furthermore, Oluwasegun, Opeyemi, Ayodele, Damilare, Michael, Adeola, Opeyemi, Abass, Iyanuoluwa, Jimoh, Adedeji, Abayomi, Olamide, Akande, Michael, Adekunle, and Omobosola were convicted and sentenced to six months of community service each, as Adekunle and Omobosola got a N50, 000 and N100, 000 fine alongside their sentences, respectively.
“The courts also convicted and sentenced Abuo, Miller, Dare, and Michael to three months of community service each, but Abuo got a N50,000.00 fine in lieu of his sentence, while Michael was to pay a fine of N30,000 alongside his sentence,” the statement adds.
The convicts were ordered to restitute their various victims and forfeit all items recovered from them, including a green Toyota Highlander with Registration Number: LSD 400-GX and one sky-blue Toyota Camry with Registration Number: DG 453-FT, to the Federal Government of Nigeria.
All 41 convicts bagged their imprisonment after they were arrested by operatives of the EFCC for internet-related offences and were investigated, prosecuted, and convicted.
