The Ilorin Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Thursday, secured the conviction of Shitu Labeeb Adebowale, accused of parading as Sheryl Sandberg, a Chief Operative Officer of one of the leading social media platform, Facebook, to swindle unsuspecting victims.
Justice Adenike Akinpelu of the Kwara State High Court, Ilorin found Adebowale guilty of the two count-charge preferred against him by the EFCC and sentenced him to six months imprisonment.
Count one of the charge reads in part: ‘’That you, Shitu Labeeb Adebowale (alias Sheryl Sandberg) sometime in May 2021, in Ilorin, did cheat by personation, when you pretended to be Sheryl Sandberg, a white female, with gmail Account sherylsandberg695@gmail.comand fraudulently deceived Peppelon Shell to send the sum of $350 to you through steam wallet gift cards and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 321 of the Penal Code and punishable under Section 324 of the same Penal Code’’
When the charge was read to Adebowale, he pleaded  guilty to the offence.
Following his plea, the prosecuting EFCC lawyer, Innocent Mbachie, drew the attention of the court to plea bargain agreement entered by the Adebowale. He also tendered several fraudulent messages printed from Adebowale’s email including the phones and laptop used in perpetrating the crime as well as a manager’s cheque (bank draft) of N205, 705, which he raised as restitution to his victims.
Mbachie, thereafter urged the court to consider the plea of guilt entered by Adebowale , the plea bargain agreement signed by both parties, the extra-judicial statements of Adebowale and the unchallenged testimonies of the prosecution witness to convict Adebowale as charged.
Justice Akinpelu held that the prosecution had proved its case beyond reasonable doubt. Consequently, she pronounced Adebowale  guilty and sentenced him to a prison term of six months on each count, to run concurrently with option of fine of N150,000 on each count.
The judge also ordered the forfeiture of the convict’s phone and laptop as well as the manager’s cheque of N205,705 which he benefited from his unlawful activity to the Federal Government.
