The Lagos Zonal Office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has secured the conviction of four Internet fraudsters, Kunle Omoniyi; Bassey Odo, Paul Adebisi and Temitope Samson, who were arrested in different parts of the state recently.
The convicts were all charged with offences bordering on possession of documents containing false pretences and involvement in other forms of Advance Fee Fraud.
While Omoniyi, Odo and Adebisi were convicted and sentenced by Justice Mojisola Dada of the Lagos State High Court, Ikeja, Samson was convicted and sentenced by Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo of the Special Offences Court, Ikeja, Lagos.
The EFCC had, on August 10, 2020, arraigned Omoniyi on a three-count charge, following intelligence received about his criminal activities, to which he pleaded guilty.
Delivering her judgment, Justice Dada sentenced him to 18 months in prison commencing from the date of conviction, with an option of N250,000 fine.
The Judge also ordered that two small gold chains, one big gold chain with two pendants and iPhone 11 Pro Max mobile phone recovered from him should be forfeited to the Federal Government.
Odo’s travail began after the Nigerian Postal Service, NIPOST, petitioned the EFCC on January 20, 2020 accusing him of compromising its official email account, emsnigcsu@yahoo.com by creating a pseudo account, emsrugcs6@gmail.com, which was used to defraud unsuspecting citizens.
He was subsequently arraigned before Justice Dada on August 11, 2020 on amended three counts, to which he pleaded “guilty”.
Consequently, Dada convicted him and sentenced him to one year imprisonment from the date of his conviction, with an option of N250,000 fine.
The Court further ordered him to pay the sum of N8, 350 to the complainant, Okott John, in restitution and also forfeit the iPhone X mobile phone recovered from him to the Federal Government.
In the same vein, Justice Dada convicted Adebisi on August 11, 2020 on five counts and sentenced him to two years imprisonment commencing from the date of his conviction, with an option of N500, 000 fine.
He was also ordered to forfeit to the Federal Government one dark black iPhone X, one App laptop, and one Macbook laptop, which were recovered from him.
Justice Taiwo convicted Samson on the two-counts charge filed against him, and sentenced him to six months imprisonment on August 10, 2020, with an option of N250,000 fine.
The Judge also ordered the forfeiture of the iPhone X mobile phone recovered from him to the Federal Government.
Samson had been arrested at 1004 Estate, Victoria Island, Lagos, following intelligence about his involvement in internet fraud.
Dele Oyewale
Head, Media & Publicity
