The Ilorin Zonal Office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has secured the conviction of six individuals for internet fraud-related offences. The convictions were handed down by Justices Sulaiman Akanbi and Adebayo Yusuf of the Kwara State High Court, sitting in Ilorin.
According to a statement released by the EFCC’s Head of Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale, on Thursday, the convicted individuals include Idris Muhammed, Ismail Mustapha, Oyekola Odunayo, Anthony Stephen, Timilehin Adeniyi, and Olayiwola Ayomide Abdulmalik.
Justice Akanbi sentenced Muhammed, Mustapha, Odunayo, and Stephen, while Justice Yusuf convicted Adeniyi and Abdulmalik on Monday, October 14, 2024.
The charge against Idris states: “That you, Idris Muhammed, between July 13 and August 13, 2024, in Ilorin within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did cheat by impersonating one Dorthy Onanew level Palmer and fraudulently deceived Lavergne Adriana Racheal into sending $600 via Cash App, thereby committing an offence contrary to Section 321 of the Penal Code and punishable under Section 324 of the Penal Code.”
Similarly, Ismail was charged with impersonating “Myre Roddy” on TikTok between 2022 and 2023, deceiving Ron Woldron to send $500 via Apple gift cards, thus violating Sections 321 and 324 of the Penal Code.
The defendants pleaded guilty to all charges. In response, EFCC prosecutors Andrew Akoja and Victoria Igodo presented the defendants’ extrajudicial statements, evidence of items recovered at their arrest, and funds acquired from their fraudulent activities, which the court accepted as evidence.
Justice Akanbi sentenced Idris to two years in prison with the option of a N100,000 fine and ordered the forfeiture of his iPhone 13 and $300 to the Federal Government as restitution. Ismail received a one-year sentence with an option of a N100,000 fine and forfeiture of his iPhone 11 Pro Max and $300.
Odunayo was sentenced to one year in prison with a N100,000 fine on one count, two years with a N200,000 fine on another, and two weeks of community service with a N50,000 fine on a third count. The court also ordered the forfeiture of $300 and N34,900 recovered from him to the government.
Anthony was sentenced to one year in prison with a N50,000 fine, and his iPhone 12 and $25 from his unlawful gains were forfeited to the government.
In a similar ruling, Justice Yusuf sentenced Timilehin and Olayiwola to six months in prison with an option of a N200,000 fine each. The convicts’ phones and restitution payments were also forfeited to the Federal Government.