The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Ibadan Zonal Office, has secured the conviction of two internet fraudsters in Abeokuta, Ogun State.
The duo of Shonibare Kayode Hazzan and Adetayo Tade Ademuluyi were convicted and sentenced by Justice Ibrahim Waliat of the Federal High Court, Abeokuta after pleading guilty to the respective one-count amended charges preferred against them.
Shonibare bagged five months prison term, while Adetayo was slammed with nine months, both were found guilty of criminal impersonation for deploying false representation to dupe people on the internet.
The court had rejected the seven months prayer contained in Adetayo’s plea bargain agreement with the Commission. He was given nine months instead for allowing the court to go into full trail before coming to propose the plea bargain.
Shonibare’s sentencing of five months was in consonance with the plea bargain he had with the EFCC.
Unlike Shonibare, who was first arraigned on March 8, 2019, Adetayo has been standing trial since December 10, 2018.
The convictions will start from the respective days of convicts’ arrests.
Apart from serving them prison terms, Justice Waliat ordered the forfeiture of items found on the convicts when arrested, as well as ruled that they return sums of money in United State Dollars to their victims as restitution.
Shonibare was to refund $45 (Forty Five US Dollars) as against Adetayo’s $4,000 (Four Thousand US Dollars).
