A Federal High Court sitting in Ibadan, Oyo State, on Friday, June 24, 2022, convicted the trio of Olashoju Mohammed Abiodun, Eniatimo Oludare Samson and Olaniran Abiodun for internet-related fraud.
The convicts were arraigned on separate one-count charges for offences relating to cyber-fraud.
The charge against Abiodun reads: “That you, Olashoju Mohammed Abiodun ‘M’ (aka Clara Walta) sometime in 2021, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, with intent to defraud, impersonated Clara Walta, a Brazilian woman by which you obtained benefits and gained an advantage, a pretext which you knew to be false and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 22 (2) (b) (i) and punishable under Section 22 (2) (b) (iv) of the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2015.”
The charge against Samson reads, “That you, Eniatimo Oludare Samson sometime in July 2021 within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court with intent to defraud, knowingly impersonated one Clifford Allen, when you falsely represented yourself as such to one Natasha Stansel Laird via your Gmail Account in order to gain advantage for yourself contrary to Section 22 (2) (b) (ii) of the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention etc.) Act, 2015 and punishable under Section 22 (2) (b) of the same Act.”
The charge against Abiodun reads: “That you, Olaniran Abiodun sometime in 2020, within the jurisdiction of this Honourabel Court, did aid some suspected internet fraudsters now at large to commit a felony, to wit: impersonation, to gain advantage for themselves and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 27 (1) (b) and punishable under Section 27 (2) of the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2015.”
They pleaded “guilty” to the charges preferred against them.
Afterward, the prosecution counsel, Abdulrasheed Suleiman reviewed the facts of the cases, tendered documents as evidence, and urged the court to convict and sentence them as charged.
Consequently, Justice Agomoh convicted and sentenced Abiodun to nine months imprisonment, Samson to five months imprisonment and Abiodun bagged seven months jail term.
Also, the court ordered that Samson pay the sum of N11, 733, 248.74 warehoused in his First Bank account and the sum of N153, 647.67 found in his United Bank of Africa account as restitution.
