Mother, son sentenced to 12-year imprisonment for $82,570 internet fraud

A Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos State, on Tuesday, January 28, 2020, sentenced Damilola Ahmed Adeyeri and his mother, Alaba Kareem Adeyeri to 12 years of imprisonment each for obtaining money under false pretence to the tune of $82, 570. 00, (Eighty-two thousand five hundred and seventy dollars).

Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke convicted the son and mother following their plea of guilty to a four-count charge of conspiracy and obtaining money under false pretence preferred against them by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The convicts were arrested following a petition from the Federal Bureau of Investigation against Damilola Adeyeri and others now at large on an alleged case of conspiracy, obtaining money under false pretence, money laundering and computer-related fraud.

EFCC counsel, Bilikisu Buhari, told the court that the mother and son conspired with one Kareem Russell, still at large, to defraud the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of American Cranes Manufacturing Company of $82, 570. 00.

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Idi Musa, an investigator with the EFCC, told the court that sometimes in April 2019, the commission received a petition from the FBI, alleging that the official email address of American Cranes Manufacturing company was hacked and as a result the sum of $82, 570. 00 was stolen by the fraudsters.

The commission further said that Damilola was arrested on September 6, 2019, after which his mother was apprehended when she went to withdraw money from the bank upon hearing that her son was being investigated by EFCC.

The commission added that Damilola’s mother also bought properties in the name of her son with the proceeds made from the fraud.

The commission also said the sums stolen by the convicts were used to acquire properties in choice areas of Lagos, and some cash were found in their accounts.

In view of their guilty plea, Justice Aneke found the duo guilty on all counts and sentenced them to three years imprisonment on each count, which is to run concurrently.

Justice Aneke also ordered that all the properties and monies recovered from the convicts be forfeited to the Federal Government and upon applications by the victims, restitution be made to them.