EFCC Charges 11 OAU Undergraduates with Internet Fraud in Osun State Court
EFCC Presents 11 Undergraduates in Court Over Internet Fraud Charges
Faith Orji 
In a significant legal development, the Ibadan Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) brought eleven students from Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) before Justice Nathaniel Ayo-Emmanuel of the Federal High Court in Osogbo, Osun State on Monday, November 6, 2023, for their alleged participation in internet fraud.
The defendants faced various counts of charges as levied against them by the EFCC. Their names are as follows: Perekebena Olombeni Micah, Nnekwelugo Nnaemeka, Moyosore Favour Oluwasakin, Aghwaritoma Wisdom Obaro, Daniel Olashile Maiye, Gbolahan Khalid Adesina, Yinka Temitope Jayeola, Olumuyiwa Emmanuel Adeleye, Abiola Emmanuel Oluwadare, Busari Abdulazeez Ayodeji, and Okesipe Tobiloba Paul.
Nine of the accused individuals were arraigned on a single count charge each, while the remaining two, Micah and Obaro, faced a total of six charges each.
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One of the counts reads: "That you, Perekebena Olombeni Micah, sometime in 2023 in Osogbo, Osun State, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did fraudulently impersonate the name – Pies through your WhatsApp account phone number +1(414)367-9473, by claiming that you are an American Female in love with your victims in the United States of America with intent to gain an advantage for yourself and thereby committed an offense contrary to Section 22 (2) (b) (i) and punishable under Section 22 (2) (b) of the Cyber Crimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2015."
Another count reads, "That you, Aghwaritoma Wisdom Obaro, on or about 1st November 2023 at Ile-Ife, Osun State, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, fraudulently impersonated by representing yourself to be a white man by the name Alex Stephens from the United States of America to one Megan Johnson, through your Google Chat and your email address (alexsteps678@gmail.com) with intent to gain an advantage for yourself and thereby committed an offense contrary to Section 22 (2) (b) (i) and punishable under Section 22 (2) (b) of the Cyber Crimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2015."
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All of the defendants pleaded "not guilty" to the charges during their arraignment.
Subsequently, Oluwatoyin Owodunni, the prosecution counsel, requested trial dates and the remand of the defendants at a Correctional Center.
In response, defense counsels for Ayodeji, Adesina, Oluwasakin, Micah, Adeleye, and Okesipe informed the court of the "motions for bail applications" they had filed on behalf of their clients. These motions had been served on the prosecution, and they urged the court to grant bail to the six defendants in the most liberal terms.
After considering both parties' arguments, Justice Ayo-Emmanuel granted bail to Ayodeji, Adesina, Oluwasakin, Micah, Adeleye, and Okesipe. Ayodeji, Adesina, Oluwasakin, Adeleye, and Okesipe were admitted to bail in the sum of N2,000,000 (Two Million Naira only) each, while Micah was granted bail in the sum of N3,000,000 (Three Million Naira only).
Additional bail conditions stipulated that two sureties in a similar sum must vouch for each defendant. The first surety should be the defendant's father or mother, while the second surety should be a relative, sibling, clergy, or civil servant employed by the Osun State Government. Furthermore, the sureties must provide affidavits of means, and the court registrar must verify their residential and office addresses and statuses.
The judge adjourned the cases to November 29 and December 12, 2023, respectively, for the commencement of the trial. Meanwhile, the defendants were remanded at the Ilesha Correctional Center in Osun State, pending the fulfillment of their bail conditions.
These students were among the seventy (70) individuals suspected of internet fraud who were arrested on Wednesday, November 01, 2023, at the Oduduwa Estate area of Ile-Ife in Osun State, following actionable intelligence concerning their alleged involvement in fraudulent internet-related activities.
