EFCC Arrests Oyo Internet Fraudsters

EFCC Arrests Oyo Internet Fraudsters

Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Ibadan zonal office have arrested 15 suspected internet fraudsters at Ologuneru Area of the metropolitan city of Ibadan, Oyo State.

They are, Bamidele Ayodele Samson, Bamidele Philip, Tunji Oladapo Sowale, Bololaji Olalekan and Abdulrauf Abiodun.

Others are: Olaleye Pelumi, Anuokuwapo Olanrewaju, Paul Damilola, Olateye David Tobi, Arewa Adekunle Ibrahim, Oyesanmi Ayomikun Oluwaseun, Olaleye Israel, Adediran Kemisola, Omobolade Alarape and Olowolusi Oluwatomisin.

In a sting operation led by the zonal head, Friday Ebelo, a Deputy Chief Detective Superintendent, the suspects who are between the ages of 21 and 35 years were taken by surprise when operatives swept on them at one of their notorious havens in the city. Five of them allegedly claimed to be undergraduates while the other 10 claimed to be self-employed in varied vocations.

They are already helping operatives with useful information.

The Commission got wind of their activities following series of intelligence report, alleging that they engaged in various fraudulent activities ranging from obtaining money by false pretences through sending of scam emails to unsuspecting victims mostly in the United States of America, while others were engaged in romance scam on several dating sites.

At the point of arrest, EFCC operatives recovered four different models and brands of exotic cars, five laptops, 20 telephones (10 iPhones) and one small bag containing items suspected to be fetish objects (juju) from them. Several documents, including international passports, and ATM cards were also recovered from them.

They will be charged to court after thorough investigation.

Tony Orilade
Ag. Head, Media & Publicity
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Man Bags Six Months for Impersonation, N1.5m Fraud

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has secured the conviction of one Bidemi Adebayo, who was prosecuted before Justice C.L. Dabup of a Plateau State High Court, sitting in Jos on a two-count charge bordering on impersonation and obtaining by false pretence to the tune of N1.5 million.

A petition received by the Commission regarding the matter alleged that, sometimes in April 2015, the petitioner received an international call from an unknown person who claimed to be her son-in-law that resides in the United States of America, and the impostor further claimed he is in a financial difficulty thereby requesting for some money, with a promise to refund it later.

Believing him, the petitioner sent N1,547,000 into various accounts provided by Adebayo.

After thorough investigation, it was discovered that he actually opened an account with the name Adewale Moruf, using his real passport photograph. It was the said account that some part of the monies were paid into.

Further investigation into the matter revealed that one Dr. Mike Ajayi, Mr. Adams and Stanley Iheohakara (all still at large) are suspects in the matter and also benefited from the unlawful act. Efforts are currently ongoing to track them in order to bring them to justice.

Count one reads: “That you, Adebayo Bidemi (alias Olatunde Adewale Moruf) on or about the 15th day of April, 2015 within the Jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, did dishonestly induce one Lami Lukden to deliver the sum of N585,000 (Five Hundred and Eighty Five Thousand Naira) to you for a business as her in-law and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 322 of the Penal Code Law, Cap 89 laws of Northern Nigeria 1963”.

He pleaded “guilty” to the charges.

In view of the plea, prosecuting counsel, Benjamin Mangi, urged the court to convict the accused and sentence him accordingly.

Justice Dabup, thereafter, convicted and sentenced him to six months in prison, with an option of N70,000 as fine.

Tony Orilade
Ag. Head, Media & Publicity
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Internet Fraudster Bags 3 Months for Impersonating US Army Officer

Justice Modupe Adebiyi of a Federal Capital Territory, FCT High Court, Gudu, has sentenced an internet fraudster, Peter James, to three months in prison.

The trial judge had on January 24, 2019 convicted him on a one-count charge of “impersonation and attempt to cheat”.

The count reads: “That you, Peter James, sometimes in 2018 at Abuja, the Judicial Division of this Honourable Court, did attempt to cheat by impersonating, while representing yourself on QQ International as Barnett Edward, an army officer deployed to Afghanistan and thereby

Committed an offence punishable under section 324 of penal code, laws of Federation (Abuja) 1990”.

He had pleaded “guilty” to the charge.

Sentencing the convict, today, January 31, 2019, Justice Adebiyi, however, gave him an option of N100,000 as fine, and ordered him to write an undertaking that he will never commit any crime again.

“The undertaking must include a good passport photograph of him”, the judge added.

Tony Orilade
Ag. Head, Media & Publicity
31st January, 2019