The Federal High Court sitting in Ilorin,the Kwara state capital, presided over by Justice Muhammed Sani has convicted a fraudster, Ajewole Oluseyi David, based in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State and seven others, over offences bordering on internet fraud.
The judge also ordered the forfeiture of a duplex situated at Lekki, Eti-Osa Local Government Area of Lagos State, worth over N60million and one RS 350 Lexus car worth more than N6million, which the convict procured with proceeds of his illegal activities to the Federal Government.
Other convicted persons include Ebenezer Olamilekan Apata, Obadun Abiodun Taofeek ; Ayeni Kayode ; Alade Oluwatosin Daniel ; Ojo Tobi ; Adeyemi Segun and one Akinrinmola Olumide.
The convicts were among the 30 suspects arrested by EFCC operatives during a sting operation in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State Capital, on April 26, 2022, except for Adeyemi Segun that was arrested in Ogbomosho Area of Oyo State sometime in October 2021.
The convicts, who were prosecuted on separate charges, pleaded guilty to their respective charge.
Upon the “guilty plea” entered by the defendants, Innocent Mbachie, Sesan Ola and Andrew Akoja who prosecuted the cases on behalf of the Commission reviewed the facts of the cases from the bar, narrated the circumstances surrounding the arrest of the defendants and tendered several incriminating materials recovered from them at the point of arrest, which were admitted in evidence.
The EFCC counsels urged the court to consider the “guilty plea” of the defendants; their extra-judicial statements and the uncontroverted evidence of the prosecution as well as the provisions of the law in convicting the defendants as charged.
In his judgement on the cases, Justice Sani upheld the submissions of the prosecuting counsels and pronounced the defendants guilty of their respective charges.END
COV/ALI MUHAMMAD RABIU
