EFCC Secures Conviction of 39 Internet Fraudsters in Ibadan

The Ibadan Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has secured the conviction and sentencing of 39 internet fraudsters. The convictions were handed down by Justices O.S. Adeyemi, Bayo Taiwo, and Ladiran Akintola, all of the Oyo State High Court in Ibadan.

The individuals were each prosecuted on separate one-count charges related to impersonation, cheating, possession of fraudulent documents, and obtaining by false pretense. This information was shared in a statement released today on the EFCC’s official X account.

The convicts include Fasanya Abdulqudus Gbolahan, Nkiri Oluchukwu Destiny, Fakoya Tobi Samuel, Owolabi Qudus Damilare, Isiaka Olajide Adebayo, Olawoyin Wasiu Olasunkanmi, Olawale Owolabi Abideen, Olayiwola Tunde Waheed, Kehinde Pelumi Abdulrauf, Okunlola Taoreed Abidoun, Okunlola Dolapo Mujeeb, Ademeso Raphael Olamide, Lawal Olajuwon Ridwan, Femi Dogo Oluremi, Ehinmowo Jeremiah Damilola, Joseph Isaac Justice, Enitan Tolulope John, Kolawole Toluwani Josaiah, Alo Ayokunnumi Emmanuel, Adetola Opeyemi Idris, and Joshua Imole Shiyanbola.

Other convicted individuals include Idowu Ezekiel David, Salau Abeeb Ayomide, Adeyemi Samuel Adeleke, Philip Olabode Olatunde, Fasanya Gbenga Tunde, Seun Ayomide Babatunde, Ogoayo Alabi Sijuola, Akanji Timothy Bidoun, Quadri Salami Oyindamola, Samuel Adeyemi Oluwatobi, Ogunyemi Gbolahan Opemiposi, Olabanjo Oluwafemi Olatunbosun, Paul Nneji Uche, Ayomiposi Clement Akinyimika, Abdullahi Mustapha Adisa, Ajetunmobi Azeez Olashile, Oluwaseun Adeyeye Adeniran, and Onah Austine Ayomide.

One of the charges, against Onah Austine Ayomide, stated: “That you, Onah Austine Ayomide ‘M’, on or about 28th March 2024, at Ibadan, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, fraudulently impersonated a white woman named Linda Mary from the United States of America, through your Facebook account (Linda Mary), to one Clifton Deininger from the United States of America, with intent to gain advantage for yourself, thereby committing an offence of impersonation contrary to Section 484 of the Criminal Code Law Cap 38, Laws of Oyo State, 2000.”

All defendants pleaded “guilty” to the charges. The prosecution counsel then reviewed the facts of each case, presented incriminating evidence, and requested the courts to convict and sentence them accordingly.

Justice Adeyemi sentenced Austin Ayomide to one year of community service or a fine of N200,000. Tunde received a one-month jail term or a fine of N250,000. Abeeb Ayomide, Adeleke, Babatunde, Bidoun, Oyindamola, Oluwatobi, Olatunbosun, Uche, Akinyimika, Adisa, Olashile, and Adeniran were each sentenced to six months of community service and fined N50,000, except for Abeeb Ayomide, who was fined N500,000. Sijuola received one month of community service or a fine of N100,000, while Olatunde and Opemiposi were sentenced to three months of community service without an option of a fine.

Justice Taiwo sentenced Taoreed Abidoun to three months of imprisonment and Mujeeb to four months. Olasunkanmi and Abideen received six months of community service and a fine of N150,000 each. Gbolahan, Damilare, Adebayo, and Abdulrauf were sentenced to five months of community service each, with Abdulrauf also fined N100,000. Waheed and Samuel were sentenced to four months of community service and fined N100,000 each. Destiny received two months of community service.

Justice Akintola sentenced Olamide, Oluremi, Damilola, Justice, Josaiah, Emmanuel, and Shiyanbola to one-year jail terms each, with fines ranging from N30,000 to N120,000. Damilola forfeited a green Nissan Micra car, Emmanuel forfeited a black Lexus IS 250, and Justice forfeited a black Toyota Corolla.

Justice Akintola also sentenced Idris and David to six months of community service each or fines of N60,000 and N150,000, respectively. Ridwan and John were sentenced to three months of community service each or fines of N25,000 and N30,000, respectively.

All items recovered from the convicts were forfeited to the Federal Government. The convicts were apprehended in a sting operation targeting fraudulent internet activities.