Court convicts six internet fraudsters

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has secured the conviction of six internet fraudsters on charges bordering on fraudulent impersonation.

Five of the convicts – Ahmed Oguneye Abiona, Owoade Kehinde Elijah, Oriade Sunday Oluwatobiloba, Usman Adams Shehu, and Waris Adegoke Adeyemo – were prosecuted before Justice Nathaniel Ayo-Emmanuel of the Federal High Court, Osogbo, Osun State, while David Fatunla Taiwo (aka Jeff Wood), was prosecuted before Justice Babs Kuewunmi of the Federal High Court, Ado Ekiti, Ekiti State.

They pleaded guilty to their respective one-count charges and were convicted accordingly on Wednesday, January 26.

Abiona, Adeyemo and Shehu bagged four months each, Owoade three months, while Oriade was sentenced to five months imprisonment. Taiwo was slammed with 20 months imprisonment.

The court also ordered the defendants to restitute their victims.

Oriade is to restitute his victim the sum of $590. He was equally ordered to forfeit an iPhone XR, one Samsung S5 mobile phone and one Acer Laptop to the Federal Government of Nigeria,

Ahmed is to restitute to one Michael Johnson the sum of $500 and further forfeit the sum of N3,013,007.39 found in his United Bank of Africa Account, an iPhone 11 Pro Max mobile phone and one Toyota Camry car to the Federal Government of Nigeria, being proceeds of his crime.

Adeyemo was ordered to return the sum of $300 to one Peter Decker and forfeit one iPhone 11 Pro Max to Federal Government of Nigeria.

Shehu is to restitute his victim the sum of $400 and forfeit one Samsung Galaxy S8 to Federal Government of Nigeria.

Owoade was ordered to restitute his victim the sum of $300 and forfeit an iPhone 6 mobile phone to Federal Government of Nigeria.

Taiwo was ordered to restitute his victim, one Joanne K. Thornhill, the sum of £450 through the Federal Government of Nigeria.

TheStar