Court Jails Two OAU Students, Others For Internet Fraud

The Ibadan Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, said it has secured the conviction and sentencing of two undergraduates of Obafemi Awolowo University, OAU, and four others to various jail terms for their involvement in internet fraud.

This was disclosed in a statement on the official X handle of the EFCC on Tuesday

According to the statement, the undergraduates, Gbolahan Adesina and Perekebena Micah, were docked before Justice Nathaniel Ayo-Emmanuel of the Federal High Court, Osogbo on a lone-count separate charge.

The four others, Sholagbade Olanrewaju, Qudus Baba, Akinpelu Opeyemi and John Adeyemo, were arraigned before Justices O.A. Adetujoye and S.O. Adeyemi of the Oyo State High Court sitting in Ibadan also on a one-count separate charge.

The statement disclosed that Adesinna and Micah are among the eleven undergraduates of OAU arraigned on November 6, 2023 before Justice Nathaniel Ayo-Emmanuel where they all pleaded not guilty to the charges read to them, and the cases were adjourned for trial.

The statement read, “Upon their arraignment on November 6, 2023, they all pleaded not guilty to the charges when they were read to them and the cases were adjourned for trial.

“At the resumed proceeding of the matter on Tuesday, February 13, 2024, prosecution counsel, Umar Abiso informed the court that Adesina and Micah were ready to change their pleas. Consequently, they were re-arraigned and pleaded “guilty” when the amended charges were read to them.

“Also, four other convicts pleaded “guilty” to the one count charge filed against them by the EFCC.”

“After listening to the counsels, Justice Ayo-Emmanuel convicted and sentenced Adesina and Micah to one-year imprisonment each without an option of fine, while Olanrewaju, Atanda, Opeyemi, and Adeyemo bagged two weeks of community service each.”

The statement added that the convicts were also ordered to restitute their various victims and forfeit all items recovered from them to the Federal Government of Nigeria.