By Nkechi Eze
The Ilorin Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has secured the conviction and sentencing of 11 internet fraudsters before Justices Mahmud Abdulgafar of the Kwara State High Court and Abimbola Awogboro of the Federal High Court, both sitting in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital.
The Commission’s spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, disclosed this in an official statement, revealing that the convicted individuals Matthew Stephen Yaba, Samuel Stephen Ayomide, Bamidele Favour Olajide, Isah Kadir, Abdulrasaq Jubril, Samuel Peter Juwon, Omolaiye Stephen Benefit, Kayode Emmanuel Opeyemi, Abdulrahim Lasisi, Ugwuadu Ikechukwu Michael, and Moshood Abduljawad were found guilty of offences ranging from impersonation and internet fraud to obtaining money under false pretence and retention of proceeds of crime.
Ten of the defendants were tried and convicted by Justice Awogboro, while one, Abdulrasaq Jubril, was prosecuted and sentenced by Justice Abdulgafar.
One of the convicts, Matthew Stephen Yaba, was found guilty of retaining the control of N7,384,750 in his Kuda Bank account, money traced to criminal activity. He was sentenced to nine months imprisonment without an option of fine, and his iPhone 13 and the sum of N200,000 were ordered forfeited to the Federal Government.
Samuel Stephen Ayomide was sentenced to nine months in prison without an option of fine. He was found guilty of defrauding a victim named Faith Jackson of $922 through fraudulent messages sent via his Telegram account under the alias “CPN Goat.” The court also ordered the forfeiture of his iPhone 16 and $535 to the Federal Government.
Bamidele Favour Olajide was convicted and sentenced to six months imprisonment without an option of fine. His iPhone X, Samsung A05, and $50 were forfeited to the Federal Government.
Isah Kadir received a sentence of 300 hours of community service at five hours per day. He also forfeited his Infinix Hot 10 Light phone, which was used in committing the offence.
Samuel Peter Juwon was handed a 12-month prison sentence without an option of fine. The court also ordered the forfeiture of his iPhone 6, iPhone XR, iPhone 13, an HP laptop, and $500 all identified as tools and proceeds of crime.
Omolaiye Stephen Benefit was sentenced to nine months imprisonment without an option of fine, and forfeited his mobile phones and the sum of N1 million to the Federal Government.
Kayode Emmanuel Opeyemi was sentenced to six months imprisonment without an option of fine. He also forfeited his phone and N500,000 to the government.
Abdulrahim Lasisi was sentenced to 150 hours of community service, also at five hours per day, and forfeited his Samsung S9.
Ugwuadu Ikechukwu Michael and Moshood Abduljawad were sentenced to 12 and six months imprisonment respectively, without the option of a fine. In addition to their prison terms, Michael was ordered to pay N500,000 in restitution to his victim, while Abduljawad was ordered to refund $190. Both also forfeited their mobile phones used in the crimes to the Federal Government.
Justice Mahmud Abdulgafar, in his ruling on Abdulrasaq Jubril, sentenced him to a six-month suspended sentence. He was also ordered to restitute $290 to his victim and forfeit his iPhone 12 to the Federal Government.
According to EFCC spokesperson Dele Oyewale, all 11 convicts pleaded guilty to the charges. Prosecution counsels Aliyu Adebayo, Andrew Akoja, and Omolade Ajibola presented the facts of the cases in court through witnesses, alongside the defendants’ extra-judicial statements, items recovered at arrest, and traced proceeds of the crimes. These were all admitted as evidence by the courts before sentencing.
