Bisiriyu Roqeeb Abiodun, Ibrahim Azeez Olatunji, Akinwale Isaac and Habeeb Oladipupo Oshundairo have been convicted for cybercrime-related offences by a Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos.
The convicts were part of the 93 individuals apprehended during a raid by operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
According to the EFCC, “upon profiling, almost all the suspects arrested have been indicted for alleged offences bordering on impersonation, identity and internet fraud.”
During Friday’s sitting, four defendants admitted guilt to the charges brought against them.
Umar Shuaibu, an EFCC operative, testified that Isaac Akinwale posed online as a woman and ran a celebrity scam through which he defrauded a victim of $500.
Prosecuting counsel Franklin Ofoma presented a 2007 Toyota Camry, a Galaxy phone, and a bank draft of ₦400,000 as exhibits in the case.
Justice Dehinde Dipeolu sentenced Akinwale to three months in prison with an option of a ₦1 million fine.
Ibrahim Olatunji was handed one month in prison or a ₦500,000 fine for his involvement in a romance scam.
Habeeb Oshundairo was sentenced to 30 days of community service, which requires him to carry a banner with the inscription: “Cybercrime Does Not Pay. Stay Away from Cybercrime”, after being convicted on two counts of impersonation and for retaining ₦600,000 as proceeds of crime.
Another defendant, Onunoye Olamilekan, pleaded not guilty to charges of impersonating one “Nurse Becky” on Facebook and retaining $50 obtained through fraud. His lawyer contested the validity of the charges, claiming that the section of the Cybercrimes Act cited by the prosecution “did not exist.”
Justice Dipeolu ordered Olamilekan’s remand at the Ikoyi Correctional Centre until October 31, when his trial is scheduled to continue.
Although the EFCC filed cases against 23 of the arrested suspects, only four were arraigned on Friday.
EFCC spokesperson Dele Oyewale explained that the arraignments would be conducted in phases, saying the commission would prosecute the remaining suspects “in batches.”
