Cybercrime: Thirteen Convicted in Oyo, Ogun …Forfeit Cash, Vehicles to FG
By JUMOKE SANNI
The Ibadan Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has secured the conviction and sentencing of thirteen cybercriminals to various jail terms.
The convicts were arraigned before Justices Ladiran Akintola and A.O. Lajide of the Oyo State High Court sitting in Ibadan and Justice B.B. Adebowale of the Ogun State High Court, Abeokuta, Ogun State on one count charge each, which bordered on cybercrime.
The convicts are Ibikunle Innocent, Akerele Ayobami Emmanuel, Olawale Iskilu Odunmbaku, Abubakry Oluwapelumi Faruk, Samson Omotolani Adepeko, Ademola Lateef Babatunde, Afeez Babalola Bolaji, Akinlade Gbemileke Samson, Arowolo Ololade Abdulazeez, Kadiri Oluwasegun Abdulsodiq, Bamgbade Clement Oluwadamilare, Abiodun Olukoya Ibrahim and Sotunde Tobi Okikiola.
Upon their arraignments, they all pleaded “guilty” to the charges filed against them.
Consequently, prosecution counsel. Modupe Akinkoye, Oluwatoyin Owodunni, Shamsudeen Bashir, Adamu Sahabi, Ibukun Olatinwo, A.M. Aliyu, Umar Abiso, Odemuyiwa Damilare, Fatima Baba and Z.M. Tijani reviewed the facts of the cases, tendered several documents that were admitted as exhibits and prayed the courts to convict and sentence the defendants accordingly.
Justice Akintola, after listening to the prayers, convicted and sentenced Akerele to one year imprisonment and a N250, 000.00K (Two Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira) fine; Okikiola, six months community service and a N250, 000.00K (Two Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira) fine; Olukoya, one year imprisonment or N100, 000.00K (One Hundred Thousand Naira) fine, while Oni was sentenced to two years imprisonment or N250, 000.00K (Two Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira) fine.
Also, Justice Lajide convicted and sentenced Bamgbade, Bolaji, Babatunde, Adepeko, Faruk and Odunmaku to six months community service each while Justice Adebowale convicted and sentenced Abdulrasaq, Arowolo and Akinlade to three months imprisonment each without an option of fine.
The convicts were ordered to restitute their victims and forfeit all items recovered including two Toyota Venza vehicles to the Federal Government of Nigeria.
