Three internet fraudsters have been nabbed by the EFCC for using identities of foreigners, to defraud both their local and foreign victims.
Justice Uche Agomoh of the Federal High Court sitting in Ibadan, Oyo state has convicted and sentenced the three internet fraudsters to various jail terms.
The convicts are Toheed Busayo Tiamiyu (a.k.a Avolos Scott), Soliu Adewole Ijiola (a.k.a Gracelyn Parley) and Aberuagba Gafar Oladimeji (a.k.a John Williams).
While Tiamiyu was sentenced to fourteen months imprisonment, Ijiola bagged five months jail term and Oladimeji was sentenced to eight months imprisonment.
They were all arraigned on one-count charge bordering on fraudulent impersonation.
Specifically, the trio used false identities to defraud unsuspecting foreign nationals.
The lone charge against Tiamiyu read: “That you Toheed Busayo Tiamiyu (a.k.a Avolos Scott, Smith Sadra, Kammerlinder Sandra) on or about the 14th of February, 2019, at Ibadan within the Ibadan Judicial Division of this Honourable Court, fraudulently impersonated one Avolos Scott with intent to gain monetary advantage for yourself and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 22(2)(b)(i) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc) Act, 2015 and punishable under Section 22(2)(b) of the same Act”.
The defendants pleaded guilty to the charge prompting prosecution counsel, Abdulrasheed Lanre Suleman, to pray the court to convict and sentence them accordingly.
Justice Agomoh ordered Tiamiyu to restitute a total sum of $810 USD to his victim, Jessica Rowley through the EFCC and to also forfeit his blue Infinix Hot 8 Lite phone to the Federal Government of Nigeria.
Meanwhile, Ijiola was ordered to restitute a total sum of $1,000USD to his victim through the EFCC and to also forfeit one black- coloured Lexus ES350 car, as well as one black-coloured iPhone 11 phone to the Federal Government of Nigeria.
Oladimeji on the other hand, was ordered to restitute a total sum of $500USD (Five Hundred United States Dollars) to his victim, Marily Layton through the EFCC and to also forfeit his iPhone 12 phone to the government.