The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Ibadan Zonal office, on Friday, March 15, 2019 secured the conviction of two internet fraudsters. The convicts are Paul Damilola Olowoparija and Olaleye David Tobi.
Justice P.I. Ajoku of the Federal High Court, sitting in Ibadan, Oyo State pronounced them guilty and sentenced them to six months and four months in prison, respectively. Both terms take effect from January 31, 2019 when they were arrested by operatives of the EFCC.
The sentencing followed a plea bargain agreement, which they entered into separately with the anti-graft agency. This led to their being charged on an amended count charge.
The terms of the plea bargain, were presented to the court by Oyelakin Oyediran and Abdul-Rasheed Lanre Sulaiman, EFCC counsel handling the cases against Olaleye and Olowoparija, respectively, who prayed the court to sentence them in line with the agreed content.
The charge against Paul reads: “That you, Paul Damilola Olowoparija, sometime in August 2017, in Ibadan, within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court fraudulently impersonated, by representing yourself to be Perry, a white male via your email sent to one Crystal and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 22 (2) and punishable under Section 22(b)(iv) of the Cyber Crimes (Prohibition, Prevention Etc) Act 2015.”
For Olaleye, the one count reads: “That you, Olaleye David Tobi, sometime in January 2019 in Ibadan, within the Jurisdiction of this Honorable Court fraudulently impersonated by representing yourself to be Anita Brown, a white Female via your mail sent to one Mathew Brown and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 22(2)(b)(iv) of the Cyber Crimes (Prohibition, Prevention Etc)Act, 2015.”
