A total of twenty-nine individuals have been convicted and sentenced by a court in Ibadan, Oyo State with penalties ranging from community service to hefty fines and forfeiture of assets.
The convicts were arrested by operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for various internet-related offences and subsequently charged before Justice Akintola of the Federal High Court, Ibadan.
Among those convicted are Ayodele Victor, Adebayo Kazeem Akanbi, Ajayi Charles Temitayo, Rokeeb Olamide Taiwo, Olaleye Adedolapo Emmanuel, Emiade Azeez Ayotunde, Azeez Ademola, Afolabi Mayowa Akinbobola, Shittu Waheed Adeleke, Franklyn Ibeh Kelechi, Olanrewaju Olaitan Quadri, Olawale Elijah Seyi Awofolaju, Samuel Olayemi Ademeso, Akindele Timothy Olatunde, Sholeye Gideon Olamilekan, Waheed Olamide Ahmod, Lawal Paul Jelili, Asaju Muhammad Numan, and Badejo Adefemi Emmanuel.
Also included in the list of convicts are Gomina Dennis Ozaveshe, Adio Hassan Taiwo, Adio Kehinde Hozaine, Adewunmi Adeboye Gabriel, John Oluwatimilehin Moses, Odeniyi Faruk Idowu, Owodunni Monsuru Abiodun, Sanwiyu Niyi Owonifari, Adeyinka Adewale Olujobi, Ogunbiyi Segun Joseph, Ayomide Oniyitan Oluwatosin, Badmus Faruk Kayode, Jimoh Sylvester Enahoro, Azeta Sunday Osaremeh, Lukuman Olatemo, Emmanuel Ebgiri Ogah, and Ayomide Ibrahim Ishola.
Ayomide Ibrahim Ishola, in particular, was charged with falsely representing himself as a female from the United States of America, an act which led to his arrest and subsequent conviction.
The sentences handed down by Justice Akintola varied depending on the severity of the offences committed.
Ayomide Ibrahim Ishola, for instance, was sentenced to a period of imprisonment, while others were given options of community service or fines.
Those sentenced to community service include Olamide Taiwo, Akinbobola, Adefemi Emmanuel, Ayodeji, Akanbi, Adeleke, Temitayo, Awofolaju, Jelili, Olamilekan, Ahmod, Numan, Ademeso, and Olatunde.
Additionally, some of the convicts were ordered to forfeit assets acquired through illicit means. Vehicles such as Lexus cars, Toyota Camry, Toyota Highlander, Mercedes Benz, and Honda Accord were among the assets forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria as part of the restitution process.