EFCC) IZD has successfully secured the conviction of 32 internet scammers

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Ibadan Zonal Directorate has successfully secured the conviction of 32 internet fraudsters, who were sentenced by seven judges from the High Court in Ibadan, Oyo State, and one judge in Osogbo, Osun State.

The individuals convicted include: Udoka Uzo Omefe, Adedara Ademola Ayobami, Ajayi Elijah Oladimeji, Eze James Jeffery, Olaleye Tope Akorede, Akinyemi Emmanuel Olawale, Ogbu Martins Abuchi, Oluwadare Daniel Ayomide, Adaja Oluwadamilola Oladipupo, Oyedele Diekolope Isreal, Aro Adewale Temitayo, Aluko Daniel Opeyemi, Gbadegesin Jamiu Seun, Emmanuel Oladiran Adewale, Ozor Chidozie Patrick, Adebowale Sam Adabariki, and Olamilekan Akeem Adewale. The remaining convicts are: Godstime Favour Ubierowoh, Lawal Azeez Ishola, Ismail Abayomi Akinsola, Oyetunji Zikrullah Temilade, Ojo Ayomide Samuel, Tade Dickson Ayomide, Okunade Azeez Babatunde, Omotosho Adebayo Olayinka, Rotimi Mayowa Oluwatosin, Akande Samson Tunmise, Ekundayo Mayowa Victor, Abiodun Akindoyin Oluwafemi, Christopher Inalegu Daniel, Onazi Lucky Bidemi, and Akingbogun Tobi Afeez. Each individual faced a separate one-count charge related to obtaining money under false pretenses, advance fee fraud, retaining proceeds from crime, and possessing fraudulent documents.

For instance, the charge against Omefe stated: "That you, Udoka Uzo Omefe, on or about June 8, 2024, within this Honourable Court's jurisdiction, assisted one Yemi and other internet fraudsters—who are currently at large—in creating profile pictures used to defraud victims, thus committing an offence of aiding another in the commission of a crime, as detailed in Section 7(c) and punishable under Section 419 of the Criminal Code Law, Cap 38, Laws of Oyo State, 2000." All defendants pleaded "guilty" to their respective charges, leading prosecution counsel, including Modupe Akinkoye, Oluwatoyin Owodunni, Chidi Okoli, Sanusi Galadanchi, Lanre Suleiman, Mabas Mabur, Shamsuddeen Bashir, David Olubode, and A.M. Aliyu, to request appropriate convictions and sentences. The defense urged the court to show leniency, highlighting that the defendants were first-time offenders eager to reform. Justice Olusola Adeyemi of the Oyo State High Court in Ibadan sentenced Ayobami and Adewale to six months of community service each, ordering Ayobami to pay N3.6 million in restitution to his victim.

Justice Ladiran Akintola of the same court sentenced Oladimeji to one year in prison or a fine of N50,000. He also sentenced Olawale, Ayomide, and Tunmise to six months community service or fines of N250,000, N180,000, and N100,000, respectively. Additional sentences included three months of community service or N50,000 fines each for fraudsters Patrick, Adabariki, Akinsola, Temilade, Samuel, Oluwatosin, Daniel, and Afeez. Justice U.E Maha of the Federal High Court in Ibadan sentenced Jeffery, Oladipupo, and Olayinka to one year in prison or N500,000 fines each, with a restitution order of N1,150,000 against Olayinka. In another ruling, Justice Uche Agomoh of the Federal High Court in Ibadan imposed one-year imprisonment on Babatunde and Ayomide, while Akorede received four months in prison without a fine option. Justice K.B. Olawoyin convicted and sentenced Abuchi, Israel, Temitayo, Victor, and Oluwafemi to one year in prison or fines of N200,000, N200,000, N500,000, N100,000, and N100,000, respectively. Justice O.A. Adetujoye sentenced Opeyemi to one year of community service and Ubierowoh, Ishola, and Bidemi to one month, one month, and two months of community service, respectively, all without an option of fine after their two-week remand in the Agodi Correctional Centre. In Osogbo, Justice Demi-Ajayi of the Federal High Court sentenced Adewale to two years in prison or a fine of N1 million, while Seun was ordered to perform six months of community service.

Lastly, Justice O.A. Olajide of the Oyo State High Court in Ibadan sentenced Omefe to six months in prison or a fine of N200,000. All convicts were ordered to forfeit items collected during their arrest, which included an unregistered 2013 Toyota Avalon, a black Lexus ES 250, and a wine-colored Lexus ES 330. The arrests were made following credible intelligence that revealed their involvement in fraudulent internet activities.
EFCC