The Ilorin Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) achieved a significant milestone on Monday with the conviction of six individuals on charges related to cybercrime and fraudulent activities.
The convictions were secured following separate trials before Justice Evelyn Anyadike of the Federal High Court in Ilorin and Justice Adebayo Yusuf of the Kwara State High Court, also located in Ilorin.
The convicted individuals are Aransiola Stephen, Owoeye Ezekiel, Idris Kayode, Abdulrahman Abubakar, Rafiu Adisa, and Raheem Monsur. According to a statement issued by EFCC’s head of Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale, and disseminated to journalists in Ilorin on Tuesday, these convictions bring the total number of convicted suspects to 24 out of the 50 individuals arrested during a sting operation conducted by EFCC operatives from the Ilorin Zonal Command on Wednesday, February 21st, 2024.
For instance, Aransiola Stephen faced prosecution on a one-count charge, which alleges:
“Aransiola Oluwaseun Stephen, in February 2024 in Ilorin, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, committed the offense of cheating by personation. He impersonated one Cindy Watson, a White female based in the United States of America, and under this guise, induced one Randy Driskill to send him the sum of $350 (Three Hundred and Fifty Dollars) which he received via gift cards. This act constitutes an offense contrary to Section 321 of the Penal Code Law and Punishable under Section 324 of the same law.”
The convictions underscore the commitment of the EFCC to combatting cybercrime and fraudulent activities, serving as a deterrent to potential offenders and safeguarding the integrity of Nigeria’s financial system.