By Taiye Joseph, Ilorin
The Ilorin Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), has secured the conviction of six individuals involved in internet fraud.
The convicts were sentenced by Justices Sulaiman Akanbi and Adebayo Yusuf of the Kwara State High Court sitting in Ilorin.
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This was disclosed in a statement by Dele Oyewale, Head of Media & Publicity of the EFCC, recently in Ilorin.
The convicted individuals include Idris Muhammed, Ismail Temitope Mustapha, Oyekola Odunayo, Anthony Slyvester Stephen, Timilehin Adeniyi, and Olayiwola Ayomide Abdulmalik. Justice Akanbi sentenced Idris, Ismail, Oyekola, and Anthony, while Justice Yusuf convicted Timilehin and Olayiwola on October 14, 2024.
The charge against Idris revealed he impersonated a woman named Dorthy Onanewlevel Palmer to defraud an unsuspecting victim of $600 via cash app.
Similarly, Ismail pretended to be Myre Roddy on TikTok, deceiving his victim into parting with $500 through Apple gift cards.
All six convicts pleaded guilty to their charges, with the court admitting evidence such as their extra-judicial statements, items recovered during their arrest, and funds obtained through their illegal activities.
Idris was sentenced to two years imprisonment with an option of a N100,000 fine, and his iPhone 13 and $300 were forfeited to the Federal Government. Ismail received a one-year jail term with an option of a N100,000 fine, alongside the forfeiture of his iPhone 11 Pro Max and $300.
Oyekola received a mixed sentence of one year and two years imprisonment for various counts, with an option of fines totaling N350,000 and two weeks of community service. Anthony was sentenced to one year imprisonment with a N50,000 fine, and both his iPhone 12 and $25 were forfeited.
Timilehin and Olayiwola were each sentenced to six months imprisonment, with an option of N200,000 fine. Their phones and funds were also forfeited to the Federal Government.
“All the convicts were arrested for internet-related offences, prosecuted, and duly convicted,” the EFCC statement concluded.
