The Lagos Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Wednesday, February 2, 2022, secured the conviction and sentencing of the quartet of Aregbesola Peters, Onah Paul, Jimoh Olanrewaju and Ibrahim Olatunji for their involvement in internet fraud.
The convicted internet fraudsters were arrested at the Lekki, Surulere, Obalende and Ikotun areas of Lagos, respectively.
While Peters, who posed as an American woman to perpetrate dating and romance scam, and Paul were arraigned before Justice Mojisola Dada of the Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos, Olanrewaju and Olatunji were arraigned before Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo of the Special Offences Court, Ikeja.
Peters, who was charged with an amended two-count charge bordering on possession of false documents to perpetrate internet fraud, was arrested on October 8, 2021 along with some others involved in cybercrime, following actionable intelligence received by the Commission.
An iPhone 11 Pro Max was recovered from Peters, who admitted to have benefitted $300.
Paul, who was arrested on August 2, 2021 on a one-count charge, was accused of illegal online activities such as apartment scam.
Under interrogation, he admitted to have benefitted $5,000.
A gold iPhone was recovered from him.
Upon his arrest in October 2021, Olanrewaju, who posed as a white woman based in Montreal, Canada,admitted to have benefitted $1,100 and was subsequently charged with one-count
Olatunji, who was arrested on March 9, 2021 alongside 27 suspected internet fraudsters, was charged with three counts.
He was accused of scamming his victims online by posing as a sex worker by the name Sonia.
Though he lives in Nigeria, he claimed to be based in Texas, United States of America.
An iPhone X was recovered from him, from which incriminating documents were printed out.
They all pleaded “guilty” to the charges; and also urged the Court, through their lawyers, to temper justice with mercy.
Consequently, they were convicted accordingly by the Courts.
Peters and Paul were sentenced to one year imprisonment each.
Following their respective allocutus, Peters got an option of N200,000 fine, while Paul got an option of N1million fine.
Both were ordered by Justice Dada to, upon their release, sign a written undertaking with the EFCC to be of good behaviour and never to engage in financial crime.
While Olanrewaju was sentenced to six months in prison with an option of N200,000 fine, Olatunji also bagged six months with an option of N250,000 fine.
Items recovered from them were ordered forfeited to the Federal Government.