Two convicted for Internet fraud in Lagos

Glory Ebomah

The Lagos Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Wednesday, June 1, 2022, secured the conviction and sentencing of two internet fraudsters, Ahmed Abiodun and Owotutu Damilare, before Justice O.A. Okunuga of the Lagos State High Court, sitting in Ikeja, Lagos.

They were both separately arraigned on an amended one-count charge bordering on possession of documents containing false pretences, with which they perpetrated internet fraud and defrauded unsuspecting victims of the society.

The defendants, who had earlier been arraigned before the court, had approached the prosecution, through their counsel, seeking a plea bargain and sentencing agreement, thus prompting their arraignment on the amended charges.

They were accused of contravening Section 320 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State.

They both separately pleaded “guilty” to the amended one-count charge.

In the course of the trial of Owotutu, the prosecuting counsel, E.S. Okongwu, who reviewed the facts of the matter, tendered in evidence his statement made to the interrogators, his iPhone 11, one HP laptop, a bank draft of N300,000 restitution and the fraudulent documents printed out from his devices.

According to Head, Media and Publicity, EFCC, Wilson Uwajeren, they were all admitted as exhibits against him, as there was no objection from the defence counsel, Anthony Airewele.

During the trial of Abiodun, the prosecuting counsel, O. Adewunmi, who reviewed the facts of the matter, tendered in evidence his statement made upon his arrest, an iPhone 12 Pro Max, an iPhone 11, a MacBook Air laptop, one HP laptop, a gold ring, printout of his cryptocurrency wallet containing $6,062.74, being the remainder of the about $10,000 he benefited from the alleged internet fraud, and other fraudulent documents printed out from his devices.

Adewunmi further informed the Court that a Toyota vehicle was also recovered from him along with N55,214 in his bank account.

There was no objection from the defence counsel, Z.S. Makinde; hence, they were admitted as exhibits against him.

Following their guilty pleas and the respective plea bargain and sentencing agreements, Justice Okunuga pronounced them guilty as charged.

Justice Okunuga sentenced Owotutu to six hours per day of community service for 12 months, while Abiodun was sentenced to one year at a correctional facility without an option of a fine.

Items recovered from them were also ordered forfeited to the Federal Government. They were both ordered, upon completion of their sentences, to sign an undertaking with the EFCC never to engage in such vices again.