Court jails two internet fraudsters in Ilorin

Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Wednesday secured conviction of two persons charged for internet fraud and other fraud related offences in Ilorin, Kwara state.

It would be recalled that barely 24 hours ago, two Kwara State High Court Judges convicted and sentenced five internet fraudsters prosecuted by the commission.

The convicts, Emezue Onyedikachi Joseph and Ibrahim Abdulqadir Omotowo, were charged before the court presided over by Justice Mahmood Abdulgafar on separate charges that borders on internet fraud.

The charge against Omotowo reads: “That you, Ibrahim Abdulqadir Omotowo (Kate Williams) sometime in October 2019, in Ilorin within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did cheat by personation when you pretended to be one Kate Williams, a white female with Gmail account katewilliams66421@gmail.com, and fraudulently deceived one Bernard Shannon an American citizen, to send $150.00 (one Hundred and Fifty Dollar) to you through gift card after you made him believe you were a girl in love with him and you thereby committed an offence contrary to section 321 of the penal Code and punishable under section 324 of the same penal Code.

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The charge against Joseph read: “That you, Emezue Onyedikachi Joseph (Serah James) sometime in in October, 2019, in Ilorin within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did cheat by personation when you pretended to be one Serah James a white female with Gmail account serahjames1988@gmail.com, and fraudulently deceived one Sampson with phone number +1424001470 an American citizen, to send $170:00 (One Hundred and Seventy Dollar) to you through gift card after you made him believe you were a girl in love with him and you thereby committed an offence contrary to section 321 of the penal code and punishable under section 324 of the same penal code.

They pleaded guilty to the charges.

Prosecuting Counsel, Sessan Ola, urged the court to convict and sentence the defendants according to their plea bargain agreements.

Counsel to the accused persons, Oluwadamilola Obadimeji, however pleaded with the court to be merciful with her clients and reduce the sentence.

Justice Abdulgafar in passing the judgement said evidence of prosecution witnesses were unchallenged and uncontradicted by the defendants.

“I hereby found you guilty of the offence that has to do with internet fraud and sentence you to six months imprisonment”.

“The sentence of this Honourable Court is to commence from 25th of October 2019, the day they were arrested by the operatives of the EFCC.”

On the issue of allocutus raised by defence lawyer, Justice Abdulgafar said “the issue of allocutus will only arise when the plea bargain agreement is unjust. I do not consider the plea bargain agreements to be unjust. The defendant is hereby sentenced to six months imprisonment”.