Justices A.L. Akintola, O.A. Lajide, O.A. Adetujoye of the Oyo State High Court, sitting in Ibadan; Justice B.B. Adebowale of the Ogun State High Court, Abeokuta and Justice Uche Agomoh of the Federal High Court, Ibadan have convicted and sentenced sixteen (16) internet fraudsters to different jail terms.
The convicts were jailed after pleading guilty to one- count separate charges upon their arraignment by the Ibadan Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.
They are: Arode Opeyemi Amos, Babatunde Emmanuel Babalola, Oyewole Ayomilekan, Ephraim Isaiah Jonah, Ayedun Ayobami Adelani, Amusa Aminat Odunmide, Raji Eniola Al-Ameen, Ogundeyi Faruk Olamilekan, Abdullahi Adeshina Rasaq, Azeez Oluwaseun Bamidele, Moruf Olamilekan Elegbede, Olabisi Ibrahim Olamilekan, Jolaosho Uthman Olamilekan, Amod Kazeem Olayemi, Idemudia Lucky Edohamhem and Isogun Olamitan Nelson.
The charge against Nelson reads: “That you, Isogun Olamitan Nelson on or about 24th July, 2023, at Ibadan within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, with intent to defraud, aided internet fraudsters; Victor Effiong, Opeyemi, Victor Pelumi and others by redeeming fraudulent gift cards and designing false documents and waybills to aid their internet fraud, thereby committed an offence of Aiding another person in committing an offence contrary to Section 7 (c) and 484 of the Criminal Code Law Cap 30, Laws of Oyo State.”
Upon their guilty pleas, the facts of the cases were reviewed and incriminating documents tendered in evidence before the courts, following which prosecuting counsel, Oyelakin Oyediran, C.A. Okoli, S.M. Galadanchi, Mabas Mabur, Umar Abiso and shamsuddeen Bashir prayed the court to convict and sentence them accordingly.
After listening to all counsels, Justice Agomoh convicted and sentenced Odunmide and Adelani to one year imprisonment each without an option of fine. The latter was ordered to pay the sum of $800 (Eight Hundred Dollars) as restitution while Odunmide was to restitute his victim with the sum of N3.8million (Three Million, Eight Hundred Thousand Naira).
Also, Justice Lajide convicted and sentenced Ayomilekan and Nelson to six months community service each. Ayomilekan was ordered to pay the sum of N500, 000.00K (Five Hundred Thousand Naira) and Nelson to pay N10, 000.00K (Ten Thousand Naira) as fines alongside their jail terms respectively.
Furthermore, Justice Akintola convicted and sentenced Amos and Babalola to one year imprisonment each, he however gave Babalola an option of N250, 000.00K (Two Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira) fine, ordered him to pay the sum of $1,950 (One Hundred and Ninety-five Thousand Dollars) as restitution and forfeit one black colour Toyota Venza car with chassis number: 4T3BK3BB4AV044681 and registration number: NANS while Amos was given an option of N20, 000.00K (Twenty Thousand Naira) fine.
Also, Justice Akintola convicted and sentenced Al-Ameen, Ibrahim Olamilekan, Uthman Olamilekan and Olayemi to three months community service each and Jonah to six months community service with an option of N50, 000.00K (Fifty Thousand Naira) fine, but Al-Ameen was ordered to pay the sum of N40, 000.00K (Forty Thousand Naira), Ibrahim Olamilekan, Uthman Olamilekan and Olayemi to pay N50, 000.00K (Fifty Thousand Naira) as fine alongside their jail terms respectively.
Ibrahim Olamilekan forfeited one grey Toyota Camry with registration number: KTU 822 GU, Uthman Olamilekan forfeited one silver colour Lexus RX 350 SUV with chassis number: 2T2BK1BA9BC115389 and registration number: BWR 100 BT while Olayemi forfeited one grey colour Toyota Corolla with registration number: APP 121 HZ with chassis number: 5YFBU4EE7DP126845 respectively.
Also, Justice Adetujoye convicted, cautioned and discharged Faruk Olamilekan, Rasaq, Bamidele and Edohamhem while Elegbede was convicted and sentenced to one month community service by Justice Adebowale.
The judges further ordered the convicts to forfeit all devices recovered from them being proceeds of crime to the Federal Government.
The convicts began their journey to the Correctional Centre when they were arrested by operatives of the Ibadan Zonal Command of the EFCC at various locations in Oyo and Ogun states. They were later investigated and charged to court.
