Two final year students of Ilorin-based higher institutions of learning, Oyewale Wasiu Adetunji and Adebayo Ibrahim Abiodun, were, on Tuesday, Spetember 14, convicted of internet-related offences and sentenced to prison.
Justice Sikiru Oyinloye of the Kwara State High Court sitting in Ilorin, who handed them the verdict in suits filed against them by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Ilorin Zonal Command, also ordered the confiscation of items recovered from them in the course of investigation.
Oyewale and Adebayo, were students of Kwara State University, KWASU, Molete and Kwara State Polytechnic, Ilorin, respectively. Also convicted of similar offence was one Saheed Sikirullahi, who claimed to be a former student of Kwara Polytechnic, Ilorin.
In a statement released by the spokesperson of the Commission, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, on Tuesday, the convicts were said to have pleaded guilty to their respective charges as they had opted for plea bargain with the Commission.
Innocent Mbachie prosecuted for the EFCC in the case against Oyewale and Saheed, while Rasheedat Alao represented the Commission in the case against Adebayo.
The two counsel urged the court to adopt the plea bargain agreements and sentence the defendants.
“Delivering judgment on the cases on Monday September 13, Justice Oyinloye said that, he took cognizance of the plea of guilt entered by the defendants, the exhibits tendered without objection by the defence and held that the prosecution had proved its case beyond reasonable doubt.
Consequently, the court sentenced Oyewale to one year imprisonment with option of fine of N500, 000 (Five Hundred Thousand Naira only)” the statement read.
The court also ordered the forfeiture of Oyewale’s black Toyota Corolla Car with registration number RSH272BF ABUJA, as well as his Purple Samsung S10 and Black iPhone XR, used in perpetrating the crime.
“Similarly, Justice Oyinloye sentenced Adebayo to one year imprisonment with option of N500, 000 (Five Hundred Thousand Naira only) fine. The court also ordered the forfeiture of the convict’s Black Toyota Camry Car, 2007 model, with registration number FST 764 GT, which he acquired with proceeds of crime. Also forfeited to the Federal Government were the convict’s HP Pavilion Laptop and Gold Apple iPhone 11 Promax, which he used to perpetrate the crime. The court also ordered the forfeiture of the Manager’s Cheque of N400, 000 (Four Hundred Thousand Naira) which the convict raised as restitution to his victims.
“In a similar fashion, Saheed bagged one year imprisonment with option of fine of N200, 000 (Two Hundred Thousand Naira Only). In addition, the court ordered that the sum of $450 (Four Hundred and Fifty United States Dollars) which he benefited from the crime as well as his iPhone 11 Promax be forfeited to the Federal Government,” the EFCC release further stated.
