Photos: 33 internet fraudsters in Oyo, Ogun sentenced to jail

The Ibadan Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has, as disclosed by the commission’s Head of Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale, successfully secured the conviction and sentencing of thirty-three internet fraudsters to various jail terms.

The convictions were pronounced 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 in Abeokuta; and Justice Uche Agomoh of the Federal High Court in Ibadan, Oyo State. The individuals faced one-count separate charges related to cybercrimes.

The list of the convicted includes 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 include 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 tuhis 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.”

All the accused pleaded “guilty” to the charge.

 

Prosecution counsel presented facts and indicting documents, urging the courts to convict and sentence the defendants. The Justices, having considered both parties’ prayers, convicted and sentenced the defendants accordingly.

Taiwo received eighteen months imprisonment, and Olasupo and Babatunde one-year jail terms each. Aremu, Solomon, Adedimeji, Sunday, Alabi, Ayomide, Mumeen, Olanrewaju, Olonitola, Obinna, Tajudeen, Onoapor, Opeyemi, Wemimo, Pelumi, Okwise, Olakunle, Adegoke, Oluwaseyi, Olanrewaju, Asekoni, David, and Tobiloba were assigned six months of community service each.

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

The courts mandated the convicts to restitute their victims and forfeit all recovered items to the Federal Government of Nigeria, including eight exotic vehicles.

All 33 convicts began their journey to the Correctional Centre upon arrest in various locations in Oyo and Ogun states by EFCC operatives. Subsequent investigations revealed their involvement in diverse cases of internet-related crimes, leading to their subsequent court charges and convictions.