The Ilorin Zonal office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has secured the conviction of three persons arrested by the anti-graft agency in Ado Ekiti for offences bordering on cybercrime and prosecuted before Justice Mohammed Sanni of the Federal High Court sitting in Ilorin, Kwara State.
They are Ojo David Oluwatosin, Oreoluwa Ayub and Adetoyi Sodiq, all charged on one count each. The trio upon conviction were sentenced to six months imprisonment to serve as deterrent to others of like minds.
The three convicted persons were arraigned on separate counts on Thursday, July 16, 2021 and pleaded guilty to their charges.
The charge against Ojo reads: “That you, Ojo David Oluwatosin (alias Steve Puliam) sometime in in March, 2020 at Ado Ekiti, within the judicial division of the Federal High Court, did fraudulently impersonate one Steve Puliam with the intent to obtain money from one Liza Weaver who chatted vide your email; puliamsteve@gmail.com after superimposing another male picture and you thereby committed an offence contrary to section 22(2) (b) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition prevention Etc) Act 2015 and punishable under Section 22 (2) (b) (iv) of the same Act.”
For Adetoyi, the count against reads: “That you, Adetoyi Sodiq (Alias: Linda Linda) sometime in May, 2020 at Ekiti, within the Judicial division of the Federal High Court did fraudulently impersonate one Anya Ivy whose pictures you used with the intent to obtain money from one Robert E. Smith; who you chatted with vide your email; annierandy15@gmail.com with the profile name; Linda Linda for which you later obtained $100 USD vide iTunes Gift card and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 22(2) (b) (I) of the Cybercrime (prohibition prevention Etc.) Act 2015 and punishment under section 22 (2) (b) (iv) of the same Act.”
Particulars of the charge against Oreoluwa read: “That you, OREOLUWA AYUB (Alias: James Moors) sometime in February, 2020 at Ekiti, within the Judicial division of the Federal High Court, did fraudulently impersonate one James Moors; with the intent to obtain money from one Jeremy Bedwell who you chatted vide your email; moorsjames7@gmail.com and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 22 (2) (b) (i) of the Cybercrime (prohibition prevention Etc.) Act 2015 and punishment under Section 22 (2) (b) (iv) of the same Act.”
Following their guilty pleas, the facts of the cases were reviewed with consel to the EFCC, Andrew Akoja, leading prosecution witnesses who are operatives of the Commission in evidence. Incriminating documents including confessional statements of each suspect were tendered and admitted in evidence by the court. Also tendered and admitted in evidence were items recovered from the suspects (now convicts) used as instruments of crime including iPhones, HP Laptop and a draft of N40,000
In his judgment, Justice Sanni pronounced the accused persons guilty and sentenced them to six months imprisonment each with option of fine of N100,000 (One Hundred Thousand Naira).
The Judge also ordered the forfeiture of the iPhones, HP Laptop and the N40,000 draft to the Federal Government.