37 Internet scammers have been found guilty and sentenced to various prison terms, fines, and community service by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission’s Ibadan Zonal Command.
Judges Mohammed Owolabi, Ladiran Akintola, and Mojeed Ishola of the Oyo State High Court in Ibadan, as well as Justice Olanrewaju Mabekoje, A., heard the cases against the guilty parties. A. Babawale, Olu. O. , and O. Majekodunmi. Between January 10 and March 6, 2023, Ogunfowora of the Ogun State High Court, Abeokuta, and Justice Ayo Emmanuel of the Federal High Court, Osogbo, Osun State, will preside.
They include Olubanji Dare, Abdullahi Olalekan, Salau Abdulazeez, Joshua Showemimo, Awotunde Sunday, Abegunde James, Sadu Babatunde, Emmanuel Oluwasanya, Joshua Okunlaja, Emefele Kelvin, Lateef Abiodun, Salawu Ismail, Azeez Rasaq, Akinleye Abdul-Azeez Oloruntosin, Quincy Okonma, David Olayiwola, Balogun Olanrewaju, Adebayo Bolaji, Makinde Busola, Ojekunle Apesinola, Akorede Abimbola, Olowofela Omolaja, and Olatunde Sulaiman.
Others are Fagbamiye Temitope Akinola, David Mautin Sadagbande, Odunjo Fodirudeen Bamidele, Abayomi Gideon Ayeni, Folorunsho Samuel Oluwatobi, Amoo Abdulmalik Ademola, Shittu Toheeb Ife, Stephen Godwin Olawoye, Oladimeji Ayomide Michael, Arasi Taiwo Bolaji, Sulaiman Lateef Damilare, Olori Daniel Oluwaseun, Ganiu Jamiu Adufe and Akinlagun Oyindamola Tomiwa.
With the exception of Fagbamiye Akinola, who pleaded ‘not guilty,’ the case was tried in its entirety after each defendant was arraigned on a single, distinct count.
Fagbamiye was charged with 18 counts that had potential money laundering charges attached to them, which is against Section 15 (2) (d) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as Amended) and is punishable under Section 15 (3) of the same Act.
“The prosecution called a single witness and produced ten admissible exhibits during the trial.
Fagbamiye was found guilty of all 18 counts on February 7, 2023, and was given concurrent sentences of two years in prison for each of them, according to Justice Emmanuel’s ruling.
However, Justice Emmanuel offered the convict a choice of a N200,000 fine on each of the 18 counts, totaling N3.6 million.
Other offenders received sentences ranging from two months to one year in jail, three months to one year in jail, with the option of fines.
Additionally, the convicts were required by the courts to return their victims’ property and forfeit it to the federal government.
