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.
Their offences contravened Section 22 of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc.) Act, 2015, and are punishable under the same law.
