The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has secured the conviction and sentencing of the Director of Logistics of the National Association of Nigerian Students, Federal University, Oye-Ekiti Chapter, Adeyemi Abiodun, to one-year imprisonment for internet-related fraud.
The Head, Media and Publicity, EFCC, Wilson Uwujaren, in a statement on Wednesday, said Abiodun was among the 40 persons convicted on separate one-count before four judges of the Oyo State High Court, Ibadan.
He said their offences bordered on impersonation, obtaining money under false pretence, obtaining property by false pretence and forgery contrary to Sections 419, 467, 484, 516 and 508 of the Criminal Code Law Cap 38, Laws of Oyo State, 2000.
“The other convicts are Yekeen Azeez Ishola, Okeniyi Sanuel Akinniyi, Theophilus Ademola Bukola, Salami Mohammed Adetayo, Pelumi Ajayi Temiloluwa, Lawal Abdullateef Olalekan, Okusanwo Mayowa Daniel, Oluwole Oluwasegun Ayomide, Adedotun Omodele Yusuf, Monday Nnaemeka Samuel, Idowu Adeshina, Olowe Nifemi Ayomide, Adubu Olamiotan Sunday, Kehinde Olatunji Kehinde, Oguntuase Tope Francis, Elijah Isaac Wisdom, Ogbanaya Chukwu Chukwu, Adekola Adekunle, Odebode Temiloluwa Kehinde, Joseph Odunayo Clement, Andrew Adekunle Masika, Usman Mubarak Damilare, Isiaka Olumide Hammed, Uawu Osita Henry, Kareem Afeez Alabi and Ogunyemi Ayobami Samuel.“Others include: Mimiola Victor Olamide, Adeeko Kolade Emmanuel, Egberongbe Adedayo Quam, Oyelaran Olayiwola Jeremiah, Hammed Rilwan Ishola, Adefowora Omotayo David, Adedeji Ibrahim Olamilekan, Emmanuel Timileyin Akinbowale, Michael Damola Olanrewaju, Ayanyemi Olaide Samuel, Boye Timilehin Emmanuel, Timileyin Ajibola Idowu and Azeez Tolulope Ayoade,” Uwujaren said.
Abiodun was arraigned before Justice Iyabo Yerima while the 39 others were prosecuted before Justices Bayo Taiwo, Akintola Ladiran and Olusola Adetujoye, between August 15, 2022 and August 23, 2022.
The charge against Abiodun read in part, “That you, Adeyemi Israel Abiodun and Odaise Precious Abiola, aka Prezzy, at large, on or about March 30, 2022, at Ibadan, within the Ibadan Judicial Division, did conspire to forge various United States of America Banks Cheques and purport same to be genuine and thereby committed the offence of conspiracy to commit forgery contrary to Sections 516 and 467 of the Criminal Code Law, Cap 38, Laws of Oyo State, 2000.”
Consequently, Abiodun, Daniel and Ayomide were convicted and sentenced to one-year imprisonment each without the option of fine, while Akiniyi bagged three months jail term and six months community service.
Other defendants were convicted and sentenced to six months community service each.
Recall that Abiodun, a 200 level student of Economics and Development Studies, Federal University, Oye-Ekiti, Ekiti State, was arrested on March, 30, 2022, alongside 79 others for alleged internet fraud.
Investigations revealed that between July 2021 and March 2022, Abiodun benefited N195, 274, 331.00 as cumulative heist from cyber-fraud involving forgery of over 25 US banks cheques.