Etim Ekpimah
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Ibadan Zonal Command has secured 13 convictions before different justices of the Federal High Courts in Ibadan, Oyo State and Osogbo, Osun State.
The convicts are Akintokun Olalekan (a.k.a Natalie Bryant), Sheriff Hadinan (Molly Jane), Ayojide Ayomide Ezekiel, Rokeeb Olanrewaju Bashir (Lucy Stewart), Olutekunbi Oluwatoyin Boluwatife, Adigun Martin Oladimeji, Abraham Pelumi Ariyo, Ajagbe Abdulbasit Temitope (a.k.a, James Widner).
Others are Ojelere Stephen Oladimeji, Olaleye Farudeen Abiola, Durosaro Temitope Dickson, Olubanji Remilekun Damilare(a.k.a, Beth Donald) and Shogamu Lukman Olatunbosun (a.k.a, Mary and Larry Wineteer).
They were all convicted on separate counts of fraudulent representation contrary to Section 22 (2) and punishable under Section 22 (2)(b)(iv) of Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc) Act 2015.
The charge against one of the defendants reads: “That you, Akintokun Olalekan, sometime between the months of April, 2020 and March 2021 at Ibadan within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court did impersonate a female gender known as Natalie Bryant with intent to gain advantage for yourself and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 22(2)(b)(i) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc) Act, 2015 and punishable under Section 22(2)(b)(iv)of the same Act”.
Justice Uche Agomoh of Federal High Court, Ibadan sentenced Adigun to 10 months imprisonment; Akintokun, Rokeeb, Olaleye and Shogbamu to nine months jail term each while Hadinan bagged eight months jail term.
Olubanji and Ajagbe were jailed seven months each; Ojelere, Olutekunbi and Ayojide bagged six months jail term each, while Abraham was sentenced to five months in prison.
Similarly, Justice Nathaniel Ayo-Emmanuel of the Federal High Court sitting in Oshogbo convicted and sentenced Durosaro to one month imprisonment.
The convicts are to restitute their various victims and forfeits the items recovered from them to the Federal government of Nigeria.
The court further ordered that all the convicts are to undertake to be of good behaviour after serving their jail terms.