The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has secured the conviction and sentencing of a serial internet fraudster and ex-convict, Olayinka Olatunji, to two years imprisonment and a fine of N500,000 before Justice Demi Ajayi of the Federal High Court, Abeokuta, Ogun State, for internet fraud.
According to a statement released by the agency’s Ibadan Zonal Command on Sunday, Olatunji was found guilty of a related offense on October 21, 2022, and was given a one-year jail sentence by Judge Uche Agomoh of the Federal High Court in Ibadan, Oyo State.
The anti-graft agency also disclosed that 17 cybercriminals had been found guilty and given prison terms in Abeokuta by Justices Ladiran Akintola, Mohammed Owolabi, Iyabo Yerima, Olusola Adetujoye, and the Oyo State High Court.
The convicts, according to the EFCC, are Oyeyemi Oluwaseun, Salaudeen Olamilekan, Sadiq Ahmad, Ali Omosebi, Adebola Adetosoye, Toheeb Adeleye, Aliu Alabi, Oyesanya Olakunle, Adekunle Damilare, Olalekan Aremu, Adeagbo Tola, Fabiyi Ayo, Tobiloba Adams, Akinrinola Abiodun, Nwaoha Christian, Israel Adetola and Hassan Nofiu Ayomide.
The convicts were prosecuted by the EFCC between March 6, 2023, and March 30, 2023, on separate one-count charges each. They all pleaded “guilty” when the charges were read to them.
Consequently, prosecution counsels, Akorede Olushesi, Musa Galandanchi, Modupe Akinkoye, Chidiebere Okoli, Oyelakin Oyediran, Mabas Mabur, Lanre Suleiman and Samsudeen Bashir reviewed the facts of the cases, tendered several documents that were admitted in evidence and urged the courts to convict and sentenced the defendants as charged.
Omosebi, Adetosoye and Adeleye were convicted and sentenced to one-year imprisonment, while Oyesanya, Adekunle, Fabiyi, Adams and Ahmad were convicted and sentenced to six months imprisonment but they were given an option of N50, 000.00 fine each.
Also, Akinrinola was sentenced to one-year of community service, while Oyeyemi and Alabi were sentenced to six months of community service each.
Similarly, Olalekan and Adeagbo were convicted and sentenced to four months of community service each.
Nwaoha, Osibanjo and Hassan were convicted and sentenced to two months of community service each, whereas Salaudeen was convicted and sentenced to a fine of N40,000.
The courts ordered that the convicts restitute their victims and forfeit all items recovered from them to the Federal Government of Nigeria.
