Court jails internet fraudster for one year in Lagos
By Paul Michael, Abuja
• As EFCC arrests 3 suspected fraudsters in Abuja
Justice Mojisola Dada of the Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos, has convicted and sentenced one internet fraudster, Opeyemi Fatoyinbo, to one-year imprisonment.
Fatoyinbo was arrested on July 29, 2021, during a sting operation at Rollace Hotel, Ajao Estate, Lagos, by operatives of the Lagos Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) following intelligence on the activities of some persons allegedly involved in fraudulent online activities.
The amended one count preferred against him by the anti-graft agency reads, “That you, Opeyemi Fatoyinbo, on or about 29th July 2021, in Lagos, within the Ikeja jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, with intent to defraud, retained in your possession the aggregate sum of $650.00 (Six Hundred and Fifty US Dollars) and one Samsung phone, being proceeds from a criminal conduct, deceitfully obtained from unsuspecting members of the public.”
Fatoyinbo pleaded “guilty” to the charge when read to him.
Based on his guilty plea, the prosecution counsel, Ahmed Yerima, reviewed the facts of the matter and tendered the defendant’s statement to the EFCC as well as the fraudulent documents recovered from his email accounts which were admitted in evidence against the defendant.
He, therefore, prayed the court to convict him accordingly.
Consequently, Justice Dada found him guilty of the offence and sentenced him to one-year imprisonment, with an option of a fine of N500,000.
He was ordered to make restitution of the sum of N300,000 to the EFCC Recovery account.
Read Also: You can go to jail for accommodating fraudsters, EFCC warns hoteliers
The court also ordered the forfeiture of a Samsung mobile phone recovered from him to the Federal Government.
The convict was also ordered to sign an undertaking not to be involved in any criminal activity within or outside the country.
Meanwhile, three suspected internet fraudsters have been arrested by the EFCC in Abuja
Operatives of the Abuja Zonal Command of EFCC on June 16, 2022, arrested the three suspected internet fraudsters with the name Uzefere Stephen, Dozie Kenneth, and Chinagorom Macdonald Nnadozie.
They were arrested at Bricks City Estate, Kubwa Abuja, following intelligence on their alleged criminal activities. Items recovered from them include Laptops and mobile phones.
According to the EFCC, the suspects will be charged to court as soon as the investigation is concluded.
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