EFCC Secures 978 Convictions as Footballer Goes to Jail for Cybercrime

EFCC Secures 978 Convictions as Kwara Footballer Goes to Jail for Cybercrime

The Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Abdulrasheed Bawa on Thursday, September 23, 2021 disclosed that the Commission has so far recorded 978 convictions in 2021.
He made this disclosure during a courtesy visit to the Administrator of the National Judicial Institute, Justice Salisu Garba Abdullahi at Jabi, Abuja.
Bawa, who said he was visiting to promote the cordial relationship between the NJI and the Commission, noted that, “the NJI has been with us in our capacity building for judges, justices, investigators and prosecutors in the areas that we feel we need to develop ourselves for the betterment of administration of criminal justice system”.
He expressed delight at the level of support from the judiciary in the fight against corruption.
According to the EFCC boss, the Commission has secured hundreds of forfeiture orders leading to the recoveries of billions of Naira for various state governments and individuals. “At the last count, we have 978 convictions this year, which is a testament to the fact that the judiciary is cooperating with us.”
Highlighting some of the achievements of the Commission, Bawa stated that the EFCC has embraced the use of technology in all its mandate areas and is working on several policy documents that will improve its effectiveness.
Responding, the NJI Administrator, Justice Salisu Garba Abdullahi assured that the Institute will continue to partner with the EFCC in the area of capacity building. “We must contemplate each other, so that our country can be corrupt-free. The relationship and collaboration which has been consummated by my predecessor will not only be continued under my watch but will be strengthened,” he said.

In another development, Justice Sikiru Oyinloye of the Kwara State High Court sitting in Ilorin has imposed one-year imprisonment on one of the players of Ibrafix Football Club, Ilorin, Baraye Bamidele Saoban, for offences bordering on love scam.

Baraye, 25, who hails from Ilorin, was jailed alongside one Adaraloye Ezekiel, a native of Osi, Ekiti Local Government Area of Kwara State, for similar offence.
The duo were prosecuted on separate charges by the Ilorin Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.

The defendants pleaded guilty when the charges were read to them.
Following their pleas, counsel to the EFCC, Rashidat Alao led witnesses in evidence to review the facts of the cases.

The witnesses narrated how actionable intelligence led to the arrest of Baraye and Adaraloye, telling the court that the duo specialized in “Yahoo-Yahoo business”.

Items recovered from the defendants at the point of arrest including iPhones, incriminating messages printed from their devices and manager’s cheque raised as restitution were tendered and admitted by the court.

Alao urged the court to convict the defendants since there was no contrary evidence to disprove the prosecution’s claim against them.

Justice Oyinloye in his judgment on Wednesday, September 22, 2021 said the court was convinced that the prosecution had proved its case beyond reasonable doubt based on the plea of guilt entered by the defendants and the uncontroverted evidence tendered against them.

The judge sentenced Baraye to a term of one year imprisonment with option of fine of N150,000 (One Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira). He also ordered the convicted footballer to forfeit the iPhone recovered from him at the point of arrest as well as the draft of N26,000 (Twenty Six Thousand Naira) which he raised as restitution to his victims to the Federal Government.

In similar vien, Adaraloye bagged a jail term of six months with option of fine of N250,000 (Two Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira) . The judge also ordered that the manager’s cheque of N600,000 (Six Hundred Thousand Naira) which he raised as restitution to his victims as well as the iPhone used in perpetrating the crime be forfeited to the Federal Government.

Wilson Uwujaren
Head, Media & Publicity
23 September, 2021