OAU Students Among Convicts as EFCC Cracks Down on Cybercrime

The Ibadan Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has successfully prosecuted and secured the conviction of two students from Obafemi Awolowo University (oau), along with four others, for their involvement in internet fraud.

This announcement was made via an official statement released by the EFCC on Tuesday.

According to the statement, the undergraduates, Gbolahan Adesina and Perekebena Micah, faced trial before Justice Nathaniel Ayo-Emmanuel of the Federal High Court, Osogbo, on individual charges.

Meanwhile, the four other defendants, Sholagbade Olanrewaju, Qudus Baba, Akinpelu Opeyemi, and John Adeyemo, were arraigned separately before Justices O.A. Adetujoye and S.O. Adeyemi of the Oyo State High Court in Ibadan, each on a single charge.

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The statement revealed that Adesina and Micah were part of a group of eleven OAU undergraduates arraigned on November 6, 2023, before Justice Nathaniel Ayo-Emmanuel.

At that time, they all pleaded not guilty, and the cases were adjourned for trial.

However, during the proceedings on Tuesday, February 13, 2024, the prosecution counsel, Umar Abiso, informed the court that Adesina and Micah were willing to change their pleas.

Subsequently, they were re-arraigned and pleaded “guilty” when the amended charges were presented to them.

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Likewise, the four other defendants also pleaded “guilty” to the charges brought against them by the EFCC.

Following deliberations, Justice Ayo-Emmanuel convicted and sentenced Adesina and Micah to one year of imprisonment each, without the option of a fine.

Additionally, Olanrewaju, Baba, Opeyemi, and Adeyemo were each sentenced to two weeks of community service.

Furthermore, the court ordered the convicts to make restitution to their respective victims and forfeit all seized items to the Federal Government of Nigeria.