Six Individuals, Including Two OAU Students, Sentenced for Internet Fraud in Osun and Oyo States
The Ibadan Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has successfully secured the conviction and sentencing of two undergraduates from Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) and four other individuals involved in internet fraud. The verdict was delivered by various courts in the region.
Chris Oyeoku Okafor 
The convicted undergraduates, Gbolahan Khalid Adesina and Perekebena Olombeni Micah, faced separate charges before different judges. Adesina and Micah were arraigned before Justice Nathaniel Ayo-Emmanuel of the Federal High Court in Osogbo, while the remaining four convicts appeared before Justices O.A. Adetujoye and S.O. Adeyemi of the Oyo State High Court in Ibadan.
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The other four individuals found guilty are: Sholagbade Taofeek Olanrewaju, Qudus Olohunnoyin Baba, Akinpelu Quadri Opeyemi, and John Oluwafimihan Adeyemo.
These convictions stem from the case involving a total of eleven OAU undergraduates, who were initially arraigned on November 6, 2023. The charges against them ranged from one to six counts, as preferred by the EFCC.
During their initial arraignment, all eleven defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges, and the cases were adjourned for trial. However, at the recent proceedings on February 13, 2024, prosecution counsel Umar Abiso informed the court that Adesina and Micah were prepared to change their pleas.
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Consequently, Adesina and Micah were re-arraigned, and this time, they both pleaded “guilty” when the amended charges were read to them.
One of the charges against Adesina read: “That you, Gbolahan Khalid Adesina, on or about October 27, 2023, in Ile-Ife, Osun State, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, with intent to gain advantage for yourself, did fraudulently impersonate one Monkenya Matlock, a pretense you knew to be false. Thus, you committed an offence contrary to Section 22 (2) (b) (i) and punishable under Section 22 (2) (b) of the Cyber Crimes (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc.) Act, 2015.”
Similarly, one of the charges against Micah stated: “That you, Perekebena Olombeni Micah, sometime in 2023, in Ile-Ife, 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 fe
male in love with your victims in the United States of America, you intended to gain an advantage for yourself. This act constitutes an offence contrary to Section 22 (2) (b) (i) and punishable under Section 22 (2) (b) of the Cyber Crimes (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc.) Act, 2015.”
The court subsequently handed down sentences to the convicted individuals, reflecting the gravity of their actions. These convictions serve as a stern warning against cybercrime and fraudulent activities in the digital age.
