Eric Patrick
The Ibadan Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has secured the conviction and sentencing of 32 internet fraudsters before seven High Court judges in Ibadan, Oyo State, and one High Court judge in Osogbo, Osun State.
The Commission made this known in a statement accompanied by photos shared on its Facebook page on Friday.
The convicts are Udoka Uzo Omefe, Adedara Ademola Ayobami, Ajayi Elijah Oladimeji, Eze James Jeffery, Olaleye Tope Akorede, Akinyemi Emmanuel Olawale, Ogbu Martins Abuchi, and Oluwadare Daniel Ayomide.
Adaja Oluwadamilola Oladipupo, Oyedele Diekolope Isreal, Aro Adewale Temitayo, Aluko Daniel Opeyemi, Gbadegesin Jamiu Seun, Emmanuel Oladiran Adewale, Ozor Chidozie Patrick, Adebowale Sam Adabariki and Olamilekan Akeem Adewale.
Others are Godstime Favour Ubierowoh, Lawal Azeez Ishola, Ismail Abayomi Akinsola, Oyetunji Zikrullah Temilade, Ojo Ayomide Samuel, Tade Dickson Ayomide, Okunade Azeez Babatunde, Omotosho Adebayo Olayinka, Rotimi Mayowa Oluwatosin, Akande Samson Tunmise, Ekundayo Mayowa Victor, Abiodun Akindoyin Oluwafemi, Christopher Inalegu Daniel, Onazi Lucky Bidemi, and Akingbogun Tobi Afeez.
They were prosecuted on a separate one-count charge, bordering on obtaining by false pretence, advance fee fraud, retention of proceeds of crime, and possession of fraudulent documents.
The count charge read, “That you Udoka Uzo Omefe ‘M’ on or about the 8th of June, 2024 within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did aid one Yemi and other internet fraudsters, now at large to create the profile pictures they used to obtain money from their victims by false pretence, and hereby commited an offence of aiding another person in committing an offence, contrary to Section 7(c) and Punishable under Section 419 of the Criminal Code Law Cap 38, Laws of Oyo State, 2000.”
They all pleaded guilty to their charge when they were read to them.
The prosecution counsel, Modupe Akinkoye, Oluwatoyin Owodunni, Chidi Okoli, Sanusi Galadanchi, Lanre Suleiman, Mabas Mabur, Shamsuddeen Bashir, David Olubode, and A.M. Aliyu, to pray the court to convict and sentence them accordingly.
The defence counsel pleaded with the court to temper justice with mercy, stating that they are first-time offenders and they are willing to turn over a new leaf.
Justice Olusola Adeyemi of the Oyo State High Court, sitting in Ibadan, convicted and sentenced Ayobami and Adewale to six months of community service each and ordered that Ayobami restitute his victim, the sum of N3.6 million, being proceeds of his crime.
Justice Ladiran Akintola of the Oyo State High Court, Ibadan, convicted and sentenced Oladimeji to one year imprisonment or to pay N50,000.00 fine.
He convicted and sentenced Olawale, Ayomide, and Tunmise to six months’ community service each or to pay N250,000.00, N180, 000.00 and N100,000.00 fines respectively.
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Also, he convicted and sentenced Patrick, Adabariki, Akinsola, Temilade, Samuel, Oluwatosin, Daniel, and Afeez to three months of community service, each, or to pay a N50,000.00 fine, each.
Justice U.E Maha of the Oyo State Federal High Court, sitting in Ibadan, convicted and sentenced Jeffery, Oladipupo, and Olayinka to one year imprisonment each or to pay N500,000.00 fine, each.
She further ordered Olayinka to pay the sum of N1, 150, 000.00 as restitution to his victim.
On her part, Justice Uche Agomoh of the Oyo State Federal High Court, sitting in Ibadan, slammed Babatunde and Ayomide with a one-year jail term and four months imprisonment on Akorede without an option of fine.
Justice K.B. Olawoyin of the Oyo State High Court, Ibadan, convicted and sentenced Abuchi, Israel, Temitayo, Victor, and Oluwafemi to one year imprisonment each or to pay N200,000.00, N200,000.00, N500,000.00, N100,000.00, and N100,000.00 fine respectively.
Justice O.A. Adetujoye of the Oyo State High Court, Ibadan, convicted and sentenced Opeyemi to one year of community service, Ubierowoh and Ishola to one month of community service each, and Bidemi to two months of community service, without option of fine, having remanded them in the Agodi Correctional Centre for two weeks after their arraignments.
Justice Demi-Ajayi of the Osun State Federal High Court, Osogbo, convicted and sentenced Adewale to two years imprisonment or to pay N1 million fine, while Seun bagged six months of community service without an option of fine.
Justice O.A. Olajide of the Oyo State High Court, sitting in Ibadan, convicted and sentenced Omefe to six months imprisonment or to pay N200,000.00 fine.
In addition to their sentences, all the convicts forfeited all items recovered from them, including one unregistered dark ash Toyota Avalon 2013 model car with Chassis Number: 4TIBKL1EBODU023730, a black Lexus ES 250 car with registration number: AGL – 840 – HK and a wine colour Lexus ES 330 car with registration number: KTU – 623 – GS.
