Court sentences two OAU students, four others for cybercrime

Due to their involvement in internet fraud, two Obafemi Awolowo University undergraduates have been found guilty and sentenced to varying jail terms by the Ibadan Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission. Four other individuals have also been found guilty.

This was revealed in a statement posted on the EFCC's official X handle on Tuesday.

The statement claims that Gbolahan Adesina and Perekebena Micah, the undergraduates, were docketed before Federal High Court, Osogbo Judge Nathaniel Ayo-Emmanuel on a single-count distinct charge.

The Oyo State High Court in Ibadan saw the arraignment of the four other individuals, Sholagbade Olanrewaju, Qudus Baba, Akinpelu Opeyemi, and John Adeyemo, on separate counts, before Justices O.A. Adetujoye and S.O. Adeyemi.

According to the statement, Adesinna and Micah are two of the eleven OAU undergraduates who were arraigned before Justice Nathaniel Ayo-Emmanuel on November 6, 2023. All of the students entered not guilty pleas to the accusations that were given to them, and the cases were postponed until after the trial.

The statement read, “Upon their arraignment on November 6, 2023, they all pleaded not guilty to the charges when they were read to them and the cases were adjourned for trial.

“At the resumed proceeding of the matter on Tuesday, February 13, 2024, prosecution counsel, Umar Abiso informed the court that Adesina and Micah were ready to change their pleas. Consequently, they were re-arraigned and pleaded “guilty” when the amended charges were read to them.

“Also, four other convicts pleaded “guilty” to the one count charge filed against them by the EFCC.”

“After listening to the counsels, Justice Ayo-Emmanuel convicted and sentenced Adesina and Micah to one-year imprisonment each without an option of fine, while Olanrewaju, Atanda, Opeyemi, and Adeyemo bagged two weeks of community service each.”

The statement further stated that the prisoners were mandated to return all things found on them to the Federal Government of Nigeria, as well as to restitute their numerous victims.