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Four men convicted in Lagos after EFCC’s raid on Obasanjo Presidential Library hotel.
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Convictions include prison terms, fines, and community service with public shaming.
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EFCC confirms suspects will be arraigned in batches as more trials continue.
A Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos, has convicted four men arrested in connection with cybercrime following a raid on a hotel within the premises of the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library in Abeokuta, Ogun State.
The convicts — Isaac Akinwale, Ibrahim Olatunji, Habeeb Oshundairo, and Bisiriyu Abiodun — were among 93 suspects picked up during the operation by operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
According to the EFCC, “Upon profiling, almost all the suspects arrested have been indicted for alleged offences bordering on impersonation, identity and internet fraud.”
At the Friday court session, the four men pleaded guilty to cybercrime charges when arraigned.
Convictions and Sentences
An EFCC operative, Umar Shuaibu, testified that Akinwale used a false female identity to run an online celebrity scam, defrauding a victim of $500. The prosecution, led by Franklin Ofoma, tendered a 2007 Toyota Camry, a Galaxy phone, and a bank draft of N400,000 as exhibits.
Justice Dehinde Dipeolu sentenced Akinwale to three months’ imprisonment or a N1 million fine. Olatunji was sentenced to one month’s imprisonment or a N500,000 fine for a romance scam.
Oshundairo received 30 days of community service, which includes carrying a banner reading: “Cybercrime Does Not Pay. Stay Away from Cybercrime” after conviction on two counts of impersonation and retaining N600,000 in criminal proceeds.
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Pending Trial
Another suspect, Onunoye Olamilekan, pleaded not guilty to charges of impersonating one “Nurse Becky” on Facebook and retaining $50 obtained through fraud. His lawyer challenged the validity of the charge, arguing that the cited section of the Cybercrimes Act did not exist.
Justice Dipeolu ordered Olamilekan’s remand at the Ikoyi Correctional Centre pending trial on October 31.
Although the EFCC filed charges against 23 suspected fraudsters, the court only accommodated four of the defendants in this sitting.
An EFCC spokesperson confirmed that the arraignment of all the suspects will be done in batches.
