Court jails two fashion designers, three others for Internet fraud in Ilorin

Glory Eboma

Justice Ibrahim Yusuf of the Kwara State High Court, Ilorin, Kwara State has convicted and sentenced two fashion designers: Jatto Mujeeb, Opeyemi Bhadmus Abdulsamad, alongside three other internet fraudsters:  Ipadeola Olawale, Tomiwa Kingsley and Kolawole Segun to various jail terms.

They were jailed on Monday, August 29, 2022, after pleading guilty to three-count separate charges bordering on internet fraud, cheating and possession of fraudulent funds.

Based on their guilty pleas, prosecution counsels:  Innocent Mbachie and Sesan Ola prayed the court to convict and sentence them accordingly.

Justice Yusuf sentenced Mujid to six months imprisonment on each of the three counts, with an option of fine of N50,000 (Fifty Thousand Naira) on each count. The court ordered that the iPhone 6 which was used to commit the crime be forfeited to the Federal Government.

The court imposed a jail term of six months on Bhadmus on each of the two counts with an option of a fine of N100,000 (One Hundred Thousand Naira) on each count. The iPhone 13, iPhone 6 and a draft of N150,000 (One Fifty Thousand Naira) which he raised as restitution to the victim be forfeited to the Federal Government.

Olawale bagged a jail term of six months imprisonment on each of the two counts, with an option of a fine of N100,000 on each count. The iPhone 13 and funds in his bank account:  $400 (Four Hundred United States Dollars and N1,330, 250 (One Million, Three Hundred and Thirty Thousand, Two Hundred and Fifty Hundred Naira) are forfeited to the Federal Government.

In a similar vein, Justice Yusuf sentenced Kingsley to six months imprisonment on each of the three counts with an option of a fine of N100,000 on each count. The Judge ordered the forfeiture of his phone, the sum of N91,000 (Ninety-One Thousand Naira) in his bank account and $300 (Three Hundred United States Dollars) raised as restitution to the Federal Government.

Segun bagged six months of community service without an option of a fine. Additionally, he forfeited a laptop, two phones and a sum of N1.2m found in his bank account to the Federal Government.

The convicts’ journey to the Correctional Centre began when they were arrested by operatives of the Ilorin Zonal Command of the EFCC for internet-related offences. They were prosecuted and convicted.