The conviction and sentencing of six internet fraudsters have been secured by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) before Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo of the Special Offence Court, sitting in Ikeja, Lagos State on Wednesday, May 6 for processing fraudulent documents.

WITHIN NIGERIA learnt that the convicts identified as Oyeyemi Toheeb Abiodun, Kareem Abimbola, Omolade Mayowa Solomon, Ogunmefun Fatai, Asiagwa Victory and Oguntimilehin Mayowa were arraigned separately on a one-count charge, bordering on possession of fraudulent documents, contrary to Section 318 & 320 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State, 2011 and 2015.

It was also learnt that they were arrested on March 8, 2020 alongside other suspected internet fraudsters in the Ikorodu suburb of Lagos State, following series of intelligence on their activities.

One of the charges reads: “That you, Osibajo David Oluwamuyiwa (aka Michael Morris) on or about 11th day of February, 2020 in Lagos within the Ikeja Judicial Division of this Honourable Court with intent to defraud had in your possession a document with email address [email protected] wherein you represented yourself as a female with name as Michael Morris, and sent messages online to unsuspecting persons desirous of having a female friend, which documents you knew or ought to have known having regard to the circumstances of the case, contains false pretence.”

The suspected fraudsters pleaded guilty to the charges preferred against them by the anti-graft agency resulting to review of facts of the cases by the EFCC counsel, Ahmed Yerima.

Yerima told the court that the convicts were arrested following an intelligence report about their fraudulent activities.

He told the court to convict and sentence the defendants as charged by the EFCC.

Justice Taiwo, convicted as charged and sentenced them to six months imprisonment each.

She, however, gave an “option of fine” of N300,000 each to Osibajo and Salaudeen, while N100,000 fine was given to Qudus.

In a related development, Justice Sherifat Solebo of the Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos also convicted three internet fraudsters: Olalekan Yusuf Oyebanji, Tabiti Emmanuel and David Emmanuel.

Two of the convicts were arraigned separately on a two-count charge, while David was arraigned separately on a one-count charge.

The charge against David reads: “That you, David Emmanuel on or about the 8th day of March 2020, in Lagos within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court with intent to defraud had in your possession document titled “Google Account” which representations you knew or ought to have known to be false.”

A charge against Tabiti reads: “That you, Tabiti Bolarinwa Emmanuel on or about the 8th day of March, 2020 in Lagos within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court with intent to defraud had in your possession document titled “Gmail-fwd; Lotto format from start boy” which representations you knew or ought to have known to be false.”

They pleaded “guilty” to the charges preferred against them.

Upon the plea, counsels for the EFCC, Abbas Mohammad and Samuel Daji urged the court to allow them review the facts of the case.

However, Justice Solebo adjourned David’s matter until  May 19, 2020 for review of facts of the case, while Olalekan’s matter was adjourned until May 20, 2020 for review of facts. Also, Tabiti’s matter was adjourned until May 18, 2020 for review of facts of the case.

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