The Ibadan Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has secured the conviction of twenty-one internet fraudsters before the Federal High Court in Ibadan, presided over by Justice Uche Agomoh, and several judges of the Oyo State High Court, including Justices O.S. Adeyemi, Ladiran Akintola, R.B. Olawoyin, O.S. Adeniyi, O.A. Adetujoye, M.O. Ishola, and Bayo Taiwo.
The convicted persons are Waheed Hamid Aromose, Aliu Abayomi Victor, Ugbe Emmanuel Ukali, Ajewole Segun Abraham, Abeeb Ridwan Bidemi, Kolawole Oreoluwa Johnson, Olorunyomi Sina Ayo, Ajewole Ojo Kayode, Adewale Adetola Adedotun, Olatunji Waliu Adegbaro, Shodeinde Joshua Adeyemi, Adeoye Bayo Lanre, Taufeek Rafiu Olamide, Adegbite Oluwaseyi Damilare, Hamzat Qowiyu Ajibola, Ayorinde Festus Morakinyo, Damilola Moore Ayomide, Ayinde Oluwaseun Ridwan, Ogunsami Farouk Adeyinka, Sheriff Funso Oparinde and Adewale Bolaji Al-Ameen.
They were arraigned on separate one-count charges bordering on advance fee fraud, obtaining by false pretence, retention of proceeds of crime, possession of fraudulent documents, and impersonation.
One of the charges against Al-Ameen stated that on 16 December 2024 in Ibadan, he fraudulently posed as an American named Joshua Smith on Instagram in order to deceive one Jonathan Tocobel. The prosecution maintained that this act contravened Section 484 of the Criminal Code Law, Cap 38, Laws of Oyo State, 2000.
All the defendants pleaded guilty, prompting prosecution counsel Modupe Akinkoye, Sanusi Galadanchi, Lanre Suleiman, Mabas Mabur, Shamsudeen Bashir, Umar Abiso and A.M. Aliyu to ask the courts to convict and sentence them accordingly.
Justice Akintola sentenced Adegbaro to six months community service or a fine of N250,000, and also ordered the forfeiture of a silver Mercedes Benz GLK 2015 model. Kayode, Adedotun and Oparinde each received one-year jail terms with alternatives of N60,000, N50,000 and N50,000 fines respectively. Victor, Bidemi and Abraham were sentenced to three months community service or fines of N50,000 each, while Ukali was fined N40,000.
Justice Adeyemi handed Aromose three months of community service, sentenced Ayo to six months and ordered the forfeiture of a 2013 red Toyota Camry, while Adeyemi was given one week of community service with no option of fine. Johnson received one year imprisonment or a N200,000 fine from Justice Olawoyin, while Adeyinka was sentenced to six months community service without an alternative fine by Justice Ishola.
Justice Taiwo sentenced Al-Ameen to four months of community service alongside a N100,000 fine, and Idris to three months of community service without an option of fine. Ajibola received two months of community service with no fine. Justice Agomoh sentenced Damilare, Ayomide and Ridwan to one year each; Damilare was given the option of a N500,000 fine, while Ayomide forfeited a black 2013 Toyota Camry.
Justice Adeniyi sentenced Lanre to five years imprisonment and Olamide to two years, both without an option of fine.
All convicts forfeited mobile phones, laptops, other electronic devices, and money in their bank accounts to the Federal Government as proceeds of crime.
The convictions followed arrests by EFCC investigators after credible intelligence exposed their involvement in online fraud. Following prosecution, the courts found them guilty and sentenced them accordingly.
