Justices Haleema Saleeman and Mahmud Abdulgafar of the Kwara State High Court in Ilorin have convicted and sentenced six individuals for fraud.
The convicts are Akingbehin Temitope Oluwaseyi, Ajayi Elijah Olaoluwa, Samsom Babatunde Ilesanmi, Quadri Olamilekan Lamidi, Kolawole Kehinde Moses, and Olatunji Elija Olabisi.
They were prosecuted by the Ilorin Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on multiple charges related to the retention of proceeds from criminal activities, cheating, impersonation, and internet fraud.
Oluwaseyi (a 25-year-old car dealer), Olaoluwa, Ilesanmi, and Lamidi appeared before Justice Saleeman, while Moses and Olabisi were prosecuted before Justice Abdulgafar.
The charge against Oluwaseyi states: “That you, Akingbehin Temitope Oluwaseyi, sometime between 2021 and 2024 at Offa, within the judicial jurisdiction of the Kwara State High Court, did retain control of the total sum of N2,707,562 (Two Million, Seven Hundred and Seven Thousand, Five Hundred and Sixty-Two Naira) in your Opay account number 09064776590, knowing it to be proceeds of criminal conduct, thereby committing an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 17(a) and (b) of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (Establishment) Act 2004.”
The charge against Ilesanmi states: “That you, Samson Babatunde Ilesanmi (a.k.a Angela Sara Maya), sometime in 2023 within the judicial jurisdiction of the Kwara State High Court, did cheat by impersonation when you posed as one Angela Sara Maya via a Facebook Messenger account and induced one Larry Guerrero to part with the sum of $250 (Two Hundred and Fifty Dollars), thereby committing an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 321 and Section 324 of the Penal Code Laws of Northern Nigeria.”
All defendants pleaded “guilty” to the charges when they were presented, after which prosecution counsel Sesan Ola and Andrew Akoja reviewed the facts of the cases, presented witnesses, and submitted the extra-judicial statements of the defendants. They also submitted items recovered from the defendants at the time of arrest, along with the monetary proceeds of their unlawful activities.
Satisfied that the evidence against them had been proven beyond reasonable doubt, Justice Saleeman sentenced Oluwaseyi to one year imprisonment on Count One or to pay a fine of one million naira, as well as one year imprisonment on Count Two or to pay a fine of N707,562 (Seven Hundred and Seven Thousand, Five Hundred and Sixty-Two Naira). Additionally, he forfeited two mobile phones, used as tools in his crime, and a Toyota Camry, 2009 Model, to the federal government.
Olaoluwa received a one year imprisonment or a fine of N500,000 (Five Hundred Thousand Naira). He also forfeited his iPhone 13 Pro Max, used in his illegal activities, and the sum of $410 (Four Hundred and Ten United States Dollars) to the federal government.
Ilesanmi was sentenced to four months imprisonment or a fine of N250,000 (Two Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira), along with the forfeiture of $150 (One Hundred and Fifty Dollars) and two mobile phones, both used in his crime, to the federal government.
Lamidi was sentenced to four months imprisonment or a fine of N150,000 (One Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira) on Count One; three months imprisonment or a fine of N100,000 (One Hundred Thousand Naira) on Count Two; and two months imprisonment or a fine of N50,000 (Fifty Thousand Naira) on Count Three, with sentences running concurrently. Additionally, he forfeited €325 (Three Hundred and Twenty-Five Euros), $150 Canadian dollars, and two mobile phones used as instruments of his crime to the federal government.