EFCC secures conviction of two Internet swindlers in Oshogbo

Glory Ebomah

The Ibadan Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Thursday, May 26, 2022, secured the conviction of the duo of Kamorudeen Sodiq Akano and Oyeniyi Hammed Ademola before Justice Nathaniel Ayo-Emmanuel of the Federal High Court sitting in Oshogbo, Osun State, for fraudulent impersonation.

The convicts were arraigned on a separate count of impersonation.

The charge against Oyeniyi reads: “That you, Oyeniyi Hammed Ademola (m) on or about the 24th day of March 2017, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court did fraudulently represent yourself as Mary, a white female citizen from the United States of America, with intent to gain advantage for yourself and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 22 (2) (b) (i) and punishable under Section 22 (2) (b) (iv) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition Prevention, Etc.) Act, 2015.”

The charge against Akano reads: “That you, Kamorudeen Sodiq Akano sometimes in 2021, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court fraudulently impersonated Michael Borgen, a white man from the United States of America, with intent to gain advantage for yourself and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 22 (3) (a) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition Prevention, etc.)  Act, 2015 and punishable under Section 22 (4) of the same Act.”

Upon their arraignment, the defendants pleaded guilty to the charges filed against them.

In view of their pleas, the prosecution counsel, Bashir Shamsuddeen prayed the court to convict and sentence them as charged.

Justice Ayo-Emmanuel convicted and sentenced Oyeniyi to six months imprisonment while Akano bagged five months jail term.

Also, the court ordered that Oyeniyi forfeit N5, 746, 683. 86 (five million, seven hundred and forty-six thousand, six hundred eighty-three-naira, eighty-six kobo) domiciled in his various bank accounts, one iPhone handset and one Techno Camon 11 Pro mobile phone to the Federal Government of Nigeria.

Furthermore, Akano was ordered to restitute the sum of $650USD (six hundred and fifty United States dollars), and forfeit one iPhone 12 Pro Max mobile phone and one MacBook Pro Laptop to the Federal Government of Nigeria.