By Nkechi Eze
The Lagos Zonal Directorate 2 of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Okotie Eboh, Ikoyi, Lagos, on Thursday, April 10, 2025, secured the conviction and sentence of two internet fraudsters to one year imprisonment each before Justice Abike Fadipe of the Lagos State High Court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos.
Dele Oyewale the commission’s spokesperson in an official signed statement disclosed that the convicts, Innocent Joseph Odumusor and Ajose Samuel Chukwudi, were arrested by the Nigeria Police Force, Zone 2 Headquarters, Onikan, Lagos and subsequently handed over to the Lagos Zonal Directorate 2 of the EFCC for further investigations.
Consequently, they were arraigned on two-count separate charges bordering on possession of fraudulent documents, retention of proceeds of criminal conduct and impersonation.
One of the charges against Odumusor reads: “That you, Innocent Joseph Odumusor, on or about the 3rd day of March, 2025 in Lagos, within the Ikeja Judicial Division of this Honourable court, with intent to defraud, had in your possession a bundle of fraudulent documents printed from your email account innocentodumusor@gmail.com., which documents you knew or ought to have known, having regard to the circumstances of the case, to be false; and you thereby committed an offence of possession of document containing false pretence, contrary to Section 320 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.”
One of the charges against Chukwudi reads: “That you, Ajie Samuel Chukwudi, on or about the 3rd day of March, 2025, in Lagos, within the Ikeja jurisdiction division of this Honourable court, with intent to defraud, had in your possession a bundle of fraudulent documents printed from your WhatsApp account, in order to defraud unsuspecting members of the public, which documents you knew or ought to have known, having regard to the circumstances of the case, to be fraudulent and you thereby committed an offence of possession of documents containing false pretence contrary to Section 320 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State 2015.”
The defendants each pleaded guilty to the charge preferred against them. Following their guilty pleas, counsel to the EFCC, Ahmed Yerima, called on John Daniel, an operative of the EFCC, to give a review of the facts against the defendants.
In his review, Daniel said Odumusor was arrested alongside another internet fraudster and subsequently handed over to the EFCC.
He added that: “He was processed accordingly and found in his possession was an iPhone 16 pro max, an AlienWare laptop computer and a Mercedes Benz GL 53.
“Upon his arrest, he was brought to the EFCC office, where his iPhone 16 pro max was taken to the Forensic Department and analyzed.
“In his statement, he admitted to have engaged in fraudulent activity of loading of accounts and taking over some foreign accounts.
“He also admitted to have benefited the sum of N150,000,000 (One Hundred and Fifty Million Naira).”
Yerima then sought to tender, in evidence, the defendant’s extra judicial statement, forensic documents print out, his iPhone 16 pro max, AlienWare laptop computer and Mercedes-Benz GL 53.
Justice Fadipe admitted and marked them as exhibits.
Yerima prayed that the iPhone 16 pro max, AlienWare laptop computer and Mercedes-Benz GL 53 be forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria and that the defendant be jailed.
Also, Daniel, while giving a review of the facts in the case involving Chukwudi, said : “In March, 2025 , the Nigeria Police Force arrested and handed over the defendant as a suspected internet fraudster operating in Lagos .
“He was processed accordingly, and found in his possession was an iPhone 15 pro.
“Upon his arrest , he was brought to the EFCC office, where his iPhone 15 pro max was taken to the Forensic Department and analyzed.
In his statement, he admitted to have engaged in a middle-man scam, which involved him getting foreign accounts from online vendors and selling them to loaders.
“He benefited the sum of $7000 ( Seven Thousand United States Dollars). “
He further told the court that the defendant had restituted the sum of $4000 ( Four Thousand United States Dollars ).
Yerima then sought to tender, in evidence, Chukwudi’s extrajudicial statement, $4000, forensic documents print out and the iPhone 15 pro.
Justice Fadipe admitted and marked them as exhibits. Yerima prayed that the Iphone 15 pro, $4000( Four Thousand United States Dollars) be forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria and that the defendant be jailed.
The judge found the defendants guilty and convicted him as charged.
Counsel to the defendants, Peter Taiwo and Z. S. Makinde, respectively pleaded for leniency, stating that their clients were remorseful and that they were first-time offenders, “who didn’t waste the time and resources of the court.
Delivering judgment, Justice Fadipe sentenced Odumuzor to one year imprisonment, effective from April 9, 2025, with an option of a fine in the sum of N500,000 (Five Hundred Thousand Naira) and 100 hours of community service.”
The judge further ordered that the iPhone 16 pro, AlienWare laptop computer and the Mercedes-Benz recovered from Odumozor be forfeited to the Federal Government
Chukwudi was also sentenced to one year imprisonment, effective from April 9, 2025, with an option of a fine in the sum of N500,000 ( Five Hundred Thousand Naira ) and 100 hours of community service .
Similarly, Justice Fadipe ordered that the iPhone 15 pro and the sum of $4000 recovered from Chukwudi be forfeited to the Federal Government.
The Judge also ordered that both convicts be registered on the Lagos State Offenders’ Register and should sign an undertaking with the EFCC never to commit any financial crime within and outside the shores of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
