Ex-convict, 17 others jailed for internet fraud

The Federal High Court sitting in Abeokuta, Ogun State has sentenced a serial internet fraudster and ex-convict, Olayinka Ridwan Olatunji, to two years imprisonment for internet fraud.

The court and the Oyo State High Court sitting in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, also sentenced 17 other internet fraudsters to various jail terms.

This was disclosed via a statement issued on Sunday, April 2 by the spokesperson of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Wilson Uwujaren.

Uwujaren stated that Olatunji had, on October 21, 2022, been convicted and sentenced to one-year imprisonment by Justice Uche Agomoh of the Federal High Court sitting in Ibadan for a similar offence.

He listed other convicts to include Oyeyemi Lukman Oluwaseun, Salaudeen Yunusa Olamilekan, Sadiq Adekola Ahmad, Ali Akorede Omosebi, Adebola Ayomikun Adetosoye, Toheeb Olalekan Adeleye, and Aliu Sodiq Alabi.

Others are Oyesanya Oyekole Olakunle, Adekunle Damilare, Olalekan Habeeb Aremu, Adeagbo Toyeeb Tola, Fabiyi Lukumon Ayo, Tobiloba Isiah Seyi Adams, Akinrinola Saheed Abiodun, Nwaoha Christian Israel Adetola, and Hassan Nofiu Ayomide.

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The EFCC spokesman said the convicts were prosecuted by the anti-graft agency between March 6 and March 30, 2023, on separate one count charge each, adding that they all pleaded “guilty” when the charges were read to them.

Uwujaren disclosed that the prosecution counsel, Akorede Olushesi, Musa Galandanchi, Modupe Akinkoye, Chidiebere Okoli, Oyelakin Oyediran, Mabas Mabur, Lanre Suleiman, and Samsudeen Bashir tendered several documents that were admitted in evidence and urged the courts to convict and sentenced the defendants as charged.

According to him, Omosebi, Adetosoye, and Adeleye were convicted and sentenced to one-year imprisonment while Oyesanya, Adekunle, Fabiyi, Adams, and Ahmad were convicted and sentenced to six months imprisonment but they were given an option of N50,000 fine each.

He stated that Akinrinola was sentenced to one year of community service, while Oyeyemi and Alabi were sentenced to six months of community service each.

The EFCC spokesperson noted that Olalekan and Adeagbo were convicted and sentenced to four months of community service each, adding that Nwaoha, Osibanjo, and Hassan were convicted and sentenced to two months of community service each while Salaudeen was convicted and sentenced to a fine of N40,000.

He added that the courts ordered that the convicts restitute their victims and forfeit all items recovered from them to the Federal Government.

The Star