Internet Fraud Convictions: 15 Sentenced to Jail in Ibadan.
In a significant legal move, Justices Olusola Adetujoye, O.A. Lajide, and S.O. Adeyemi of the Oyo State High Court, Ibadan, have handed down convictions and jail terms to 15 individuals involved in internet fraud.
These convictions come as a result of separate one-count charges brought against them by the Ibadan Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) between January 22 and February 5, 2024. Notably, one of the convicts, Adebola Sherrif, faced five-count charges.
Among the convicted individuals are Adebayo Ifeoluwa Timilehin, Philip Daniel, Ifemadi Haruna Segun, Okeola Olajide James Bolanle, Akinjisola Ayodeji Francis, Giwa Usman Dolapo, Olorunsola Sodiq Babatunde, Fatolu Moses Opeyemi, Bashiru Sodiq Omobolaji, Omowaye Oluwatosin Olamilekan, Badmus Yusuf Omobolaji, Lateef Ramon Olamilekan, Idowu Michael Oluwasegun, and Okunola Samuel Olalekan.
One of the charges states: “That you, Okunola Samuel Olalekan, on or about 9th of April, 2023, at Ibadan, Oyo State, within the jurisdiction of this honorable court, with the intention to defraud Older One through the Google Chat Account: [email protected], did falsely represent yourself to be Joy Ella, a female from the United States of America, thereby committing the offense of impersonation contrary to Section 484 of the Criminal Code Law Cap 38, Laws of Oyo State, 2000.”
Upon their arraignment, all the convicts pleaded “guilty” to the charges. Subsequently, the courts reviewed the facts of the cases and incriminating evidence presented by the prosecuting counsels, leading to convictions and sentences.
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Yusuf, Sodiq, and Olamilekan were sentenced to six months of community service each, while others like Timilehin, Daniel, Segun, Bolanle, Ramon, Oluwasegun, Sherrif, and Olalekan received one-month community service each. Opeyemi, Babatunde, Dolapo, and Francis were handed two weeks of community service each.
Yusuf was additionally fined N100,000.00 (One Hundred Thousand Naira), Olamilekan N200,000.00 (Two Hundred Thousand Naira), and Sodiq N170,000.00 (One Hundred and Seventy Thousand Naira). Moreover, all convicts were ordered to make restitution to their victims and forfeit recovered items to the federal government.
In a related development, the Oyo State Police Command apprehended and transferred to the Ibadan Zonal Command of the EFCC twin brothers Abdulrauf Taiwo and Abdulrauf Kehinde, along with five others: Adeyemi Samuel, Alabi Ayomide, Yekini Faroug, Hassan Olamilekan, and Ibrahim Olawale for their alleged involvement in internet fraud activities. Among the seized items were seven phones.
The EFCC stated that these individuals have provided useful statements and will face charges in court once investigations are concluded.
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