The Ibadan
Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has
secured the conviction and sentencing of two undergraduates of Obafemi Awolowo
University, OAU and four others to various jail terms for their involvement in internet fraud.
The
undergraduates, Gbolahan Khalid Adesina and Perekebena Olombeni Micah were
docked before Justice Nathaniel Ayo-Emmanuel of the Federal High Court, Osogbo
on a lone- count separate charge while others were arraigned before
Justices O.A. Adetujoye and S.O. Adeyemi of the Oyo State High Court, sitting
in Ibadan also on a one- count separate charge.
The other four
convicts are: Sholagbade Taofeek Olanrewaju, Qudus Olohunnoyin Baba,
Akinpelu Quadri Opeyemi and John Oluwafimihan Adeyemo.
Adesinna and
Micah are among the eleven (11) undergraduates of OAU arraigned on
November 6, 2023 before Justice Nathaniel Ayo-Emmanuel on different count
charges, ranging from one to six charges as preferred against them by the EFCC.
Upon their arraignment on November 6, 2023, they all pleaded
not guilty to the charges when they were read to them and the cases were
adjourned for trial.
At the resumed
proceeding of the matter on Tuesday, February 13, 2024, prosecution
counsel, Umar Abiso informed the court that Adesina and Micah were ready to
change their pleas. Consequently, they were re-arraigned and pleaded “guilty”
when the amended charges were read to them.
One of the
charges read: “That you, Gbolahan Khalid Adesina ‘M’ on or about 27th October, 2023,
at Ile-ife , Osun State, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, with
intent to gain advantage for yourself did fraudulently impersonate one Monkenya
Matlock, the you pretext you knew to be false and thereby committed an offence
contrary to Section 22 (2) (b) (i) and punishable under Section 22 (2) (b) of
the Cyber Crimes (Prohibition, Prevention Etc.) Act, 2015.”
Another charge
Reads, “That you, Perekebena Olombeni Micah sometimes in 2023, at Ile-ife, Osun
State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did fraudulently
impersonate the name Chad Frailey through your Facebook account by claiming
that you are an American Female in love
with your victims in the United States of America with intent to gain advantage
for yourself and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 22 (2) (b)
(i) and punishable under Section 22 (b) of the Cyber Crimes (Prohibition,
Prevention Etc.) Act, 2015.”
Based on their
pleas, Abiso urged the court to convict and sentence them accordingly.
Also, other
four convicts pleaded “guilty” to the one count charge filed against them by
the EFCC.
After
listening to the counsels, Justice Ayo-Emmanuel convicted and sentenced Adesina
and Micah to one year imprisonment each without an option of fine, while Olanrewaju,
Atanda, Opeyemi and Adeyemo bagged two weeks community service each.
The convicts
were ordered to restitute their various victims and forfeit all items recovered
from them to the Federal Government of Nigeria.
The convicts bagged their imprisonment when they were arrested by operatives of the EFCC for internet-related offences. They impersonated foreigners and defrauded their victims through their false identities. They were found guilty and sentenced to various jail terms.
