Ibadan couple, Internet fraudsters bag jail terms

The Oyo State High Court, Ibadan, presided over by Justice Iyabode Yerima has convicted and sentenced a couple; Aladenusi Ayodeji and Sadiat Rafiu to jail terms for cybercrime.

A  statement on Monday by the  Head, Media and Publicity of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Wilson Uwujaren, stated that the couple was convicted alongside eight others on separate one count each.

Other convicts are Adekoya Ojo, Faruq Kolapo, Adekanmi Emmanuel, Omokaro Berry, Ajayi Lawrence, Babalola Samuel and Bolaji Toheeb.

All the convicts, the anti-graft agency said, pleaded guilty to the charges preferred against them by the Ibadan Zonal Command of the EFCC.

Consequently, prosecution counsel, Samsuddeen Bashir, reviewed the facts of the cases and urged the court to sentence the defendants accordingly.

Justice Yerima, thereafter, convicted Ayodeji to one imprisonment and his wife to six months community service, taking into account the fact that she is a breastfeeding mother.

Also, Babalola was convicted and sentenced to six months imprisonment while Adekoya, Adekanmi, Omokaro, Ajayi and Bolaji were sentenced to six months community service each.

The court ordered the convicts to restitute their various victims and forfeit all items recovered from them to the Federal Government of Nigeria.

In a similar development, 10 cybercriminals were convicted and sentenced to various jail terms ranging three months imprisonment to one year jail term by Justice Mohammed Owolabi of the State High Court, sitting in Ibadan, Oyo State on November 4, 2022.

The convicts who were arraigned and convicted on a lone count each are: Owoseni Opeyemi Emmanuel, Micheal Banjo Oluwatoyin, Mustapha Temitope Abdulsodiq, Olawuyi Olanrewaju Ridwan, Edobor Lucky Uhunoma, Ilori Peter Oladayo, Basit Kolawole Ibrahim, Falade Adeyinka Moses, Abdullahi Teslim Taiwo and Temidayo Demilade Adebowale.

They all pleaded ‘guilty’ to the charges filed against them upon their arraignments.

In view of their pleas, prosecution counsel, Mabas Mabur, reviewed the facts of the cases and prayed the court to convict and sentence the defendants as charged.

Consequently, Justice Owolabi convicted and sentenced Owoseni to one year imprisonment, Olawuyi to seven months imprisonment, Temidayo to three months jail term while Michael, Mustapaha, Edobor, Ilori, Basit and Abdullahi bagged six months imprisonment.

Also, Falade Kolapo was convicted and ordered to pay N250,000 fine.

(PUNCH)