Two internet fraudsters bag jail terms in Ilorin
A Federal High Court sitting in Ilorin has convicted two Internet fraudsters, Fuad Olowo and Adepoju Emmanuel over offences bordering on personation and identity theft.
The offences are contrary to and punishable under Section 22 (2) (b) (i) of the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention etc) Act, 2015 .
The convicts, who pleaded guilty were prosecuted on separate charges before Justice Mohammed Sani.
According to the Commission, “Fuad, 21, from Kwara State was one of the 30 suspected internet fraudsters arrested on May 4, 2021 at the Unilorin gate Hostel, Tanke Area, Ilorin during a sting operation by operatives of the Ilorin Zonal Command of the EFCC.
“Investigation revealed that the 400Level Plant Biology student of University of Ilorin presented himself as an American Musician; Rick Ross, to deceive unsuspecting victims.
“On the other hand, Adepoju from Ekiti State, was accused of using the identity of one Kelvin Montalvo, while presenting himself as a military and a gym instructor living in Carlifonia to deceive his victims.
“Upon arraignment, Fuad and Adepoju pleaded guilty to the charge.
“Following the plea of guilty entered by the defendants, prosecuting counsel, Andrew Akoja, urged the Court to consider the extra-judicial statements of the defendants, the guilty plea and exhibits tendered through the investigating officer as well as the provisions of the law to convict the defendants.
“Justice Sani, after evaluating the facts and the evidence placed before the court, pronounced the duo of Fuad and Adepoju guilty.
“The judge sentenced Fuad to six months imprisonment on each count, to run concurrently with N200,000 option of fine on each on the two counts. The court also ordered the forfeiture of iphone XR used as instrument of the crime to the Federal Government.
“In the same vein, Justice Sani sentenced Adepoju to one year imprisonment with N300,000 option of fine.
“According to the judge, the convict would forfeit the HP Laptop and Tecno Spark 4 phone that were used to perpetrate the crime to the Federal Government.”
