The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has secured the conviction of three internet fraudsters arrested at a hotel within the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL) complex in Abeokuta, Ogun State.
The convicts — Adewale Adenekan, Oyatokun Qudus, and Adisa Okikiade — were arraigned before Justice Dehinde Dipeolu of the Federal High Court, Lagos, sitting as a vacation judge.
They all pleaded guilty to separate cybercrime-related charges filed by the EFCC.
During proceedings, the prosecution led by Mr. Yobo informed the court that Adenekan had already restituted ₦200,000. An iPhone 14 Pro Max recovered from him was admitted as an exhibit.
Justice Dipeolu subsequently sentenced him to one month imprisonment with an option of a ₦300,000 fine.
Qudus, who also admitted to impersonating a foreign national on Instagram under the name “Eric Melissa,” was convicted and handed the same sentence of one month in prison with the option of a ₦300,000 fine.
Okikiade, arraigned on a one-count charge for posing online as “Anthony Krenn” with intent to defraud, pleaded guilty and was equally convicted.
He was given the option of a fine in lieu of imprisonment.
Court documents revealed that the convicts had variously presented themselves as foreign nationals on digital platforms in order to obtain financial advantage.
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Their offences contravened Section 22 of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc.) Act, 2015, and are punishable under the same law.
