The Ilorin Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has secured the conviction and sentencing of 11 individuals for internet-related fraud before Justices Mahmud Abdulgafar and Abimbola Awogboro of the Kwara State High Court and the Federal High Court sitting in Ilorin.
The convicts, including Matthew Stephen Yaba, Samuel Stephen Ayomide, Bamidele Favour Olajide, Isah Kadir, Abdulrasaq Jubril, Samuel Peter Juwon, Omolaiye Stephen Benefit, Kayode Emmanuel Opeyemi, Abdulrahim Lasisi, Ugwuadu Ikechukwu Michael, and Moshood Abduljawad, were prosecuted for offences bordering on impersonation, obtaining by false pretence, retention of proceeds of crime, and internet fraud. All except Jubril were tried before Justice Awogboro.
Matthew Stephen Yaba was found to have retained N7.3 million in his Kuda account, identified as proceeds of criminal conduct, while Samuel Stephen Ayomide, using the Telegram account “CPN Goat,” defrauded a victim of $922 in Bitcoin by claiming to create credit bureau scores.
All defendants pleaded guilty, and the prosecution presented evidence including their statements, recovered devices, and funds traced to them, which were admitted in court.
Consequently, the courts sentenced them to various jail terms ranging from six to twelve months without the option of fine, while some were assigned community service.
The convicts also forfeited mobile phones, laptops, and sums of money in naira and dollars, identified as proceeds and tools of their crimes, to the federal government.
The EFCC reaffirmed its commitment to ridding Kwara State and Nigeria of cybercrime while urging youths to desist from internet fraud and embrace lawful means of livelihood.
