The Federal High Court sitting in Ilorin, Kwara state capital, has jailed a student of the Kwara State University, Malete, KWASU, Aderibigbe Sheu, for posing as a widow resident in America to defraud unsuspecting victims.
Aderibigbe Sheu, was charged before the Federal High Court presided over by Justice Muhammed Sani by the Ilorin Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.
Aderibigbe, a native of Oshogbo, Osun State Capital, was one of the 30 suspected internet fraudsters arrested in Malete, Moro Local Government Area of Kwara State on September 19, 2021, during a sting operation by operatives of the EFCC.
He was charged by the anti-graft agency on one count of cybercrime and retention of proceeds of crime before Justice Sani.
Upon arraignment, on Wednesday the defendant pleaded guilty to the charge.
Following his ‘guilty plea’, counsel to the EFCC, Rasheedat Alao, reviewed the facts of the case and tendered the extra-judicial statements of the defendant including the phone, laptop and other incriminating materials printed from his devices, which were admitted in evidence.
She urged the court to consider the guilty plea of the defendant, his extra-judicial statements, and all the exhibits tendered to convict the defendant as charged.
In his judgment, Justice Sani held that the court was satisfied with the evidence before it pronounced Aderibigbe guilty of the charge and sentenced him to 3years imprisonment with option N982,403.
The court also ordered that the iPhone 7+ and laptop, which were used to perpetrate the crime be forfeited to the Federal Government.
In a similar case, Justice Sani on Thursday convicted one
, who claimed to be from Oke-Ogun area of Oyo State on internet fraud-related offence.
Awoleye allegedly posed as one Karan Vanslack, an American lady, with the intent to defraud unsuspecting victims in contravention of Section 22 (2) (b)(ii) of Cybercrime (Prohibition Prevention) Act, 2015.
Upon the guilty plea by the defendant, Counsel to the EFCC, Sesan Ola, reviewed the facts of the case and tendered one iPhone 6, the statements of the defendants and all the fraudulent messages printed from his device, which were admitted in evidence.
Justice Sani sentenced the defendant to one-year imprisonment with an option of a fine of N100,000 and ordered that the iPhone 6 which he used to perpetrate the crime be forfeited to the Federal Government.