Justice Adenike Akinpelu of the Kwara State High Court sitting in Ilorin on Tuesday, March 8, 2022 convicted and sentenced two persons to six months imprisonment each for offences bordering on internet related fraud.
The convicts were prosecuted on one count separate charge by the Ilorin Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.
They are Kamaldeen Yusuf, a self-styled Real Estate Manager based in United States of America and one Sulyman Ridwan Omotosho from Ilorin West Local Government Area of Kwara State.
The duo of Kamaldeen and Sulyman were among the thirty suspected internet fraudsters arrested in Malete, Moro Local Government Area of Kwara State on September 19, 2021 by the operatives of the EFCC during a sting operation, following intelligence reports received by the Commission.
Upon arraignment, the defendants pleaded guilty to their respective charge.
Following their guilty pleas, Innocent Mbachie and Rasheedat Alao who prosecuted the two cases on behalf of the Commission called two witnesses to review the facts of the cases. The witnesses, who are operatives of the EFCC tendered in evidence several incriminating documents printed from defendants devices, their extra judicial statements and mobile phones used to perpetrate the crime.
The counsel urged the court to consider the evidence placed before it, the plea of guilt and all the exhibits tendered and uphold the case of the prosecution.
Delivering Judgment on the two cases, Justice Akinpelu said that the court had carefully considered the case of the prosecution and found merit in the two cases.
The judge, thereafter sentenced Kamaldeen and Sulyman to six months imprisonment each with option of fine of N100,000 (One Hundred Thousand Naira Only) each. She also ordered the forfeiture of the mobile phones recovered from the convicts to the Federal Government.