The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Ibadan zonal office on Wednesday, May 22, 2019 secured the conviction of four internet fraudsters. The convicts are: Olatunji Samod Oladimeji (a.k.a Theresa), Stephen Ayoola Ogunmefun (a.k.a Michael Schwarz), Adekanmbi Abdulazeez and Tella Adefemi Ibrahim. The anti-graft commission had dragged them before Justices Ibrahim Watilat and Mohammed Abubakar respectively sitting in Federal High Court 1 and 2, Abeokuta, Ogun State.
Following the plea bargain arrangements between them and the commission, the four of them were re-arraigned on Wednesday to face a one-count amended charge that replaced the initial charges against them. They were accused of sending pornographic and indecent pictures, and fraudulent representation. The offences are contrary to Section 22 (2) and punishable under Section 22 (2)(b)(iv) of Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention Etc) Act 2015.
They all pleaded “guilty” to their respective charges. In view of the plea, the prosecuting lawyers, Murtala Usman and Abdulrasheed Lanre Suleman, urged the court to accept the plea bargain and convict them accordingly. Justice Watilat pronounced Ogunmefun and Abdulazeez guilty and sentenced each to five months in prison.
While Abdulazeez was ordered to refund $200, Ogunmefun will pay back to his victims sums of €800 (Eight Hundred Euros) and $75. All the payments will be made through the Federal Government of Nigeria as restitution to the victims. They are also to forfeit all the items recovered from them by the commission. Equally, Justice Abubarkar jailed Tella and Olatunji for two and three months, respectively. He also gave the order that Tella forfeits a sum of N1 million, a Honda Accord car, one HP Laptop, one IPhone 8 and One Samsung X9 recovered from him. Besides the jail term, Olatunji is to restitute the total sum of $700 and £50 (Fifty British Pounds) and also forfeit his One Infinix Note 4, one black Dell Laptop and One silver HP Laptop. All the forfeitures are to the Federal Government of Nigeria
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