Court jails three internet fraudsters in Ibadan

A Federal High Court sitting in Ibadan, Oyo State, has convicted and sentenced three internet fraudsters to various jail terms.

The convicts, 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), were sentenced to jail terms by Justice Uche Agomoh on Tuesday.

While Tiamiyu was sentenced to fourteen months imprisonment, Ijiola bagged five months jail term and Oladimeji was sentenced to eight months imprisonment.

The trio, who were alleged to have used false identities to defraud unsuspecting foreign nationals, were arraigned on one-count charge bordering on fraudulent impersonation.

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.

However, the presiding judge, Justice Agomoh, sentenced Tiamiyu to fourteen months imprisonment, Ijiola bagged five months jail term, while Oladimeji was sentenced to eight months imprisonment.

Tiamiyu was ordered to restitute a total sum of $810 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.

Justice Agomoh also ordered Ijiola to restitute a total sum of $1,000 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 was also ordered to restitute a total sum of $500 to his victim, Marily Layton, through the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and to also forfeit his iPhone 12 phone to the government.

The Star

Segun Ojo