Kwara State Varsity Student Jailed Three Years For Internet Scam

The Ilorin Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has secured the conviction of Aderibigbe Sheu, a student of Kwara State University (KWASU) Malete, for posing as a widow resident in the United States of America (USA) to defraud unsuspecting victims.

Aderibigbe, a native of Oshogbo, Osun State, was one of the 30 suspected internet fraudsters arrested in Malete, Moro Local Government Area of Kwara State on 19th September 2021 during a sting operation by operatives of the EFCC. He was charged on one count of cybercrime and retention of proceeds of crime before Justice Muhammed Sani of a Federal High Court sitting in Ilorin.

Upon arraignment on Wednesday 1st June 2022, the defendant pleaded guilty to the charge.

Following his ‘guilty plea’, counsel to the EFCC, Rasheedat Alao, reviewed the facts of the case and tendered the extra-judicial statements of the defendant including his phone, laptop and other incriminating materials printed from his devices, which were admitted in evidence.

She urged the court to consider the plea of the defendant, his extra-judicial statements, and all the exhibits tendered to convict him as charged.

In his judgment, Justice Sani held that the court is satisfied with the evidence before it even as he pronounced Aderibigbe guilty of the charge and sentenced him to three years imprisonment with the option of a fine of Nine Hundred and Eighty-Two Thousand, Four Hundred and Three Naira (N982,403.00) only fine. The court also ordered that the iPhone 7+ and laptop, which were used to perpetrate the crime be forfeited to the Federal Government.

In the same vein, Justice Sani on Thursday, 2nd June 2022 convicted one Awoleye Bolaji, who claimed to be from the Oke-Ogun area of Oyo State for an internet fraud-related offence.

Awoleye allegedly posed as one Karan Vanslack, an American lady, with intent to defraud unsuspecting victims in contravention of Section 22 (2) (b)(ii) of Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention, etc) Act, 2015.

Upon the guilty plea by the defendant, counsel to the EFCC, Sesan Ola, reviewed the facts of the case and tendered one iPhone 6, the statements of the defendants and all the fraudulent messages printed from his device, which were admitted in evidence.

Justice Sani sentenced the defendant to one-year imprisonment with an option of a fine of N100,000 (One Hundred Thousand Naira Only) and ordered that the iPhone 6 which he used to perpetrate the crime be forfeited to the Federal Government.