Justice Adebayo Yusuf of the Federal High Court sitting in Ilorin, Kwara State, has convicted and sentenced two young men, Tijani Quadri Olasunkanmi and Soneye Basit Abiodun, for internet fraud.
In a Thursday statement, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) said its Ilorin Zonal Command prosecuted the convicts on a one-count separate charge bordering on internet fraud and secured the conviction on Monday, November 6.
One of the count charges reads: “That you, Tijani Quadri Olasunkanmi between January, 2022 and December, 2022 in Ilorin, Kwara State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did knowingly had under your control the sum of N21,862,800.00 (Twenty one Million, Eight Hundred Sixty Two Thousand, Eight Hundred Naira) only in your bank account number: 2115320752 with the name: Tijani Quadri Olasunkanmi domiciled with the United Bank of Africa which you knew to be proceeds of crime and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 319(a) of the Penal Code Laws of Northern Nigerian.”
The defendants pleaded guilty to the charges when they were read to them.
In view of their pleas, prosecution counsel, Isabel Adeniran prayed the court to sentence and convict the defendants accordingly.
Justice Yusuf thereafter convicted and sentenced Olasunkanmi to six months imprisonment without an option of fine.
The convict equally forfeited a Lexus RX350 Sports Utility Vehicle, iPhone 14 Pro Max and a MacBook laptop to the Federal Government.
Similarly, the judge convicted and sentenced Abiodun to six months imprisonment with an option of fine of N50,000.
The convict also forfeited an iPhone 6+ and the sum of N220,000 to the Federal Government.
Additionally, the convict was ordered to restitute the sum of $180 to his victim.
The EFCC said the convicts began their journey to the Correctional Centre when operatives of its Ilorin Zonal Command arrested them for internet-related offences.
“Specifically, they impersonated foreigners and defrauded them in the process,” the EFCC said.