Justice Mohammed Sani of the Federal High Court in Ilorin on Thursday, sentenced two suspected internet fraudsters found guilty of cyber fraud, contrary to Section 22(2) (b) (Ii) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention etc.) Act, 2015 and punishable under Section 22(2) (b) (iv) of the same Act.
The two convicts: Onyeanu Chukwuemeka David and Anthony Anyadiora Obumneme were prosecuted on separate one-count charge each by the Ilorin Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.
The Ilorin-based Imo-born Onyeanu was a POS operator, who specialized in identity theft of unsuspecting victims to perpetrate fraud through the internet. In his case, Anthony was one of the 30 ‘Yahoo Boys’ arrested on September 19, 2021 by operatives of the EFCC during a sting operation on selected hostels at Kwara State University, KWASU, Malete.
Upon arraignment on Thursday, the two defendants pleaded guilty to their respective charge.
Following their guilty plea, the prosecuting EFCC lawyers, Sesan Ola and Rashidat Alao, drew the attention of the court to the plea bargain agreement entered by the defendants with the Commission.
They urged the court to consider the extra-judicial statements of the defendants and exhibits tendered as well as the provisions of the law to convict the defendants.
In his judgment on the matter, Justice Sani held that the court had carefully considered the plea of the defendants, their statements and plea bargain agreements. He held that the defendants were guilty of their respective charge.
Justice Sani consequently sentenced Anthony to one year imprisonment with N200, 000 option of fine. The judge also ordered the convict to forfeit $150 and iPhone 11 to the Federal Government.
Similarly, Justice Sani sentenced Onyeanu to six months imprisonment with N300,000 option of fine. According to the judge, the convict would forfeit $300 which he benefited from the criminal activity and iPhone 12 Pro used to perpetrate the crime to the Federal Government.
