Cybercrime Crackdown: High Court Sentenced 8 Fraudsters in Ilorin

In a significant development in the fight against cybercrime, Justices Evelyn Anyadike of the Federal High Court and Adebayo Yusuf of the Kwara State High Court, both seated in Ilorin, handed down verdicts on Wednesday, March 13, 2024, convicting and sentencing eight individuals involved in internet fraud to varying prison terms.

These individuals, amongst a group of 48 students from Kwara State University (KWASU) and two Malete residents, were apprehended during a coordinated sting operation conducted by the Ilorin Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Wednesday, February 21, 2024.

The convicted fraudsters include Afolabi Habeeb Ajao, Mohammed Nabeel Ayara, Oluyedun Khalid Bolaji, Oladele Israel Olatayo, Aransiola Joshua Adebisi, Olaleye Gbenga Philip, Bright Moses, and Ogunrinde Gabriel Ayomikun.

Their guilty pleas were pivotal in the judicial process, as they each faced separate charges. For instance, Ogunrinde Gabriel Ayomikun was charged with retaining the sum of N3,500,000 in his bank account, knowing it to be the proceeds of an unlawful act—a violation of Section 20 of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

Upon their pleas, the prosecution, represented by Adebayo Aliyu, Sesan Ola, Mustapha Kiagama, and Isabel Adeniran, presented evidence including the defendants’ statements and items seized during their arrest.

Consequently, Justice Anyadike meted out fines of N200,000 each to Oluyedun, Olaleye, Ogunrinde, Bright, Aransiola, and Oladele, additionally ordering the forfeiture of their phones and bank account balances to the government.

Similarly, Justice Yusuf sentenced Muhammed and Afolabi to six months imprisonment each, with a fine option of N50,000. Furthermore, the judge ruled for the forfeiture of the phones used in the commission of their crimes to the Federal Government.

The sentences handed down reflect the judiciary’s firm stance against cybercrime, serving as a deterrent to others involved in such illicit activities. The EFCC’s relentless efforts, in collaboration with law enforcement agencies, demonstrate a commitment to upholding the rule of law and safeguarding the integrity of Nigeria’s digital ecosystem.