By Dele Moses, Ilorin
A kwara State High Court in Ilorin has sentenced four people to prison over internet fraud.
The people, Atanda Femi Benjamin, Sadiku Muniru Dolapo, Olapade Oladimeji Solomon and Atoyebi Samson, were taken before the court by the Ilorin zonal office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
They were arrested for allegedly disguising to defraud some foreigners on the internet and were charged with internet fraud and other related fraud offences.
The Charge against Sadiku reads “That you, SADIKU MUNIRU DOLAPO (ALIAS; CANDACE SHEPLY), sometime in 2018, at Ilorin, within the judicial division of the High Court, while acting as candace shelly a white Caucasian: with Gmail account candacesheply54@gmail.com did cheat by fraudulently inducing one Terry Rikerd in delivering to you sum of #2,800,000.00 ( Two Million Eight Hundred Thousand Naira) which you converted to Naria and lodged in your Guaranty Trust Bank account N0:0165061811 under the guise of being in a romantic relationship and stranded in Nigeria and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 320 of the Penal Code and punishable under section 322 of the Penal Code”
The charge against Samson reads “That you, Atoyebi Samson (William Grover), Sometime in July 2019, in Ilorin within the jurisdiction of this honourable Court did cheat by impersonation when you pretended to be one William Grover a white female with Gmail account Williamgrover017@gamil.com, and fraudulently deceived Charles wood an American Citizen, to send $500.00(Two Hundred Dollar) worth of gift card after you made him believe you were a girl in love with him and you thereby committed an offence contrary to section 321 of the Penal Code and punishable under section 324 of the same Penal Code”
The presiding judge, Adenike Akinpelu, after the hearing of the case found the accused guilty and sentenced them to one year imprisonment each.
Akinpelu, while delivering the Judgement on Tuesday, said “The testimonies of the prosecution witnesses in the matter were not challenged nor contradicted by the accused persons even when the Court gave them liberty to do so “
“This honourable Court is of the view the the prosecution had proved its case beyond reasonable doubt against the accused persons, this Court found you guilty of the offence of cheating by impersonation and you are hereby convicted accordingly.”
The Judge also ordered that an expensive car , Laptops and mobile phones recovered from the convicts be forfeited to the Federal Government. The sentence is without an option of fine.