Again, court jails six for internet fraud in Ilorin

Justice Evelyn Anyadike of the Federal High Court sitting in Ilorin, Kwara State, has jailed six internet fraudsters.

They were charged to court by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Ilorin Zonal Command, in continued efforts to sanitize Kwara and its environs of cybercrime and other related offenses.

The convicts are Ismail Abdulbasit from Adavi Local Government Area of Kogi State; Oladipo Victor from Omu-Aran in Irepodun Local Government Area of Kwara State and Ibrahim Oluwatosin from Ipetumodu in Osun State.

Others include Ayantola Segun Samuel from Omu-Aran in Irepodun Local Government Area of Kwara State; Musbau Waris Atomo from Orolu Local Government Area of Osun State and one Babalola Rasaq Oluwadamilare from Ogun State.

The latest conviction brings to 30 the number of persons convicted from the 50 suspects which comprised 48 students of the Kwara State University, KWASU, and two residents of Malete that were arrested during a sting operation by operatives of the EFCC over internet fraud related offences on Wednesday, February 21, 2024.

They were convicted and sentenced to various jail terms on Tuesday, after the court found them guilty of the separate counts brought against them by the EFCC.

In one of the charges against the convicts, particulars of the charge sheet against Abdulbasit read; “That you, Ismail Abdulbasit between in February 2024 at Malete, Kwara State within the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court, fraudulently impersonate one Jason Boone from United States of America with intent to gain advantage for yourself thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 22(2)(b)(ii) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention Etc.) Act 2015 and punishable under Section 22 (2)(b) (iv) of the same Act”

In addition, the charge sheet against Victor reads; “That you, Oladipo Victor, sometime between July 2023 at Ilorin, Kwara State within the judicial division of the Federal High Court, did fraudulently impersonate one Barros-Andre vide your Instagram account: barros_andre_22 with the intent to obtain from one Emrah Yilmaz and did obtain the sum of EUR 300 through Skrill App with identity [email protected] thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 22(2)(b)(ii) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention Etc.) Act 2015 and punishable under Section 22 (2)(b) (iv) of the same Act.”

Upon their pleas, counsel to the EFCC, Innocent Mbachie and Charles Oni, reviewed the facts of the cases and tendered the statements of the defendants.

The prosecutor also tendered in evidence items recovered from the suspects at the point of arrest including the various sums of money, which they benefited from the unlawful activities which were not controverted by the defence.

In her judgment, Justice Anyadike ordered the trio of Ibrahim, Babalola and Oluwatosin to pay N200,000 fine each while ordering Oladipo, Ismail and Ayantola to pay a sum of N100,000 each as fine.

The judge also ordered that all phones which the convicts used as instruments of the crime and the money, which they brought as restitutions be forfeited to the Federal Government.