Court arrests 33 internet fraudsters in Oyo and Ogun
The Ibadan Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has secured the conviction and sentence of thirty-three (33) internet fraudsters to various terms of imprisonment.
The convicts were arrested by Justices Ladiran Akintola, Adebukola Olajide and MO Ishola of the Oyo State High Court, Ibadan; Justice BB Adebowale of the Ogun State High Court, sitting in Abeokuta, and Justice Uche Agomoh of the Federal High Court, Ibadan, Oyo State.
They were charged with a separate charge bordering on cyber crimes.
According to the EFCC spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, those convicted 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, Precioso 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 Adedoy in Asekoni , Oyewole Gideon David and Asogbon Emmanuel Tobiloba.
The only separate charge against them reads: “That you, Opaleye Ramadan Olanrewaju ‘M’, on or about February 4, 2020, in Ibadan, within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, with intent to defraud one Micheal through your Instagram account Catherine falsely represented herself as Catherine, a white woman from the United States of America, which representation you knew to be false, thereby committing a personality offense contrary to Section 484 of the Penal Code Act Cap 38, Laws of the State of Oyo, 2000″.
They all pleaded “guilty” to the charge when it was read to them.
Consequently, prosecutors presented the facts of the cases and charging documents to the courts. They also prayed to the courts to convict and sentence the accused defendants.
The judges, having heard the prayers of both sides, convicted and sentenced the defendants accordingly.
Taiwo was sentenced to eighteen months in prison, Olasupo and Babatunde to one year in prison each.
Furthermore, 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.
Additionally, Mayowa was sentenced to eight months community service, while Kayode, Ogbemudia, Olaide, Balogun and Ojo served three months community service each and Ayoola two months community service.
The courts ordered the convicts to make restitution to their various victims and hand over all recovered items, including eight exotic vehicles, to the Federal Government of Nigeria.
According to Oyewale, all 33 convicts began their journey to the Correctional Center when they were arrested at 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 later charged in court and convicted,” he said.
Source: www.lindaikejisblog.com