37 People Were Found Guilty Of Online Fraud In Ogun, Oyo, And Osun.
Thirty-seven (37) Internet fraudsters were found guilty and sentenced by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibadan Zonal Command, to a variety of jail sentences, fines, and community service.
Judges Mohammed Owolabi, Ladiran Akintola, and Mojeed Oladimeji Ishola of the Oyo State High Court in Ibadan; Justices Olanrewaju Mabekoje, A.A. Babawale, O.O. Majekodunmi, and O. Ogunfowora of the Ogun State High Court in Abeokuta; and Justice Ayo Emmanuel of the Federal High Court in O
Also included are Quincy Olise Okonma, David Olateju Olayiwola, Balogun Ibrahim Olanrewaju, Adebayo Waris Bolaji, Makinde Taiwo Busola, Ojekunle Ifakorede Apesinola, Akorede Ibrahim Abimbola, Olowofela Ganiyu Omolaja, and Olatunde Zaccheus Sulaiman.
Others are Fagbamiye Temitope Akinola, David Mautin Sadagbande, Odunjo Fodirudeen Bamidele, Abayomi Gideon Ayeni, Folorunsho Samuel Oluwatobi, Amoo Abdulmalik Ademola, Shittu Toheeb Ife, Stephen Godwin Olawoye, Oladimeji Ayomide Michael, Arasi Taiwo Bolaji, Sulaiman Lateef Damilare, Olori Daniel Oluwaseun, Ganiu Jamiu Adufe and Akinlagun Oyindamola Tomiwa.
They all entered “guilty” pleas during their arraignments on separate one-count charges, with the exception of Fagbamiye Temitope Akinola, who entered a “not guilty” plea, and the matter proceeded to a full trial.
Fagbamiye was accused of violating Section 15 (2) (d) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011, (as Amended), and was sentenced under Section 15 (3) of the same Act on 18 offences that had some connection to money laundering.
The prosecution summoned one witness throughout the trial and offered eleven exhibits that were accepted as evidence.
In his ruling on February 7, 2023, Judge Emmanuel found Fagbamiye Temitope Akinola guilty of all charges against him and sentenced him to two years in prison, to be served consecutively, on each of the 18 counts.
For each of the 18 charges, Judge Emmanuel offered the offender an option of paying a fine of N200,000 (Two Hundred Thousand Naira), totaling N3.6 million (Three Million, Six Hundred Thousand Naira).
Other offenders received sentences ranging from three months to a year in prison with the option of penalties or two months to a year of community service.
The courts also mandated that the convicted parties repay their victims and forfeit to the Federal Government of Nigeria any things taken from them.
