The Kwara State High Court in Ilorin has convicted and sentenced six individuals for various fraud-related offences.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission disclosed this in a statement shared on its official X account on Saturday.
The convicted individuals include Akingbehin Temitope Oluwaseyi, Ajayi Elijah Olaoluwa, Samson Babatunde Ilesanmi, Quadri Olamilekan Lamidi, Kolawole Kehinde Moses, and Olatunji Elijah Olabisi.
They faced charges such as internet fraud, impersonation, cheating, and retention of proceeds from criminal activities.
According to the EFCC, the defendants were prosecuted by its Ilorin Zonal Directorate, with Oluwaseyi, Olaoluwa, Ilesanmi, and Lamidi appearing before Justice Haleema Saleeman, while Moses and Olabisi were tried by Justice Mahmud Abdulgafar.
One of the charges against Oluwaseyi stated: “That you, Akingbehin Temitope Oluwaseyi, sometime between 2021 and 2024 at Offa, within the judicial division of the Kwara State High Court, did retain the control of the gross sum of N2,707,562 (Two Million, Seven Hundred and Seven Thousand, Five Hundred and Sixty-Two Naira) in your Opay account number 09064776590 being the sum paid to you which you knew to be proceeds of criminal conduct, thereby committing an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 17(a) and (b) of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (Establishment) Act 2004.”
Similarly, Ilesanmi was charged with impersonation. The court heard how he pretended to be one Angela Sara Maya on Facebook, convincing a victim, Larry Guerrero, to send $250.
All six defendants pleaded guilty to the charges. Prosecutors Sesan Ola and Andrew Akoja presented evidence, including the defendants’ statements and items seized during their arrests.
After reviewing the cases, the judges passed the following sentences, Oluwaseyi was sentenced to one year imprisonment on Count One, with an option of a N1 million fine. He received an additional one-year sentence or a N707,562 fine on Count Two. His Toyota Camry, two phones, and other items were forfeited to the federal government.
Olaoluwa was sentenced to one year imprisonment or a fine of N500,000. He also forfeited an iPhone 13 Pro Max and $410.
Ilesanmi received a four-month prison term or an alternative fine of N250,000. He forfeited $150 and two phones.
Lamidi was sentenced to four months imprisonment or a fine of N150,000 on Count One, three months or N100,000 on Count Two, and two months or N50,000 on Count Three. He also forfeited €325, $150 in Canadian currency, and two phones.
The EFCC stated that the sentences were issued after the judges were convinced the evidence provided proved the charges beyond reasonable doubt.
“This outcome sends a strong message that fraudulent activities will not go unpunished,” the EFCC’s statement noted.
