Court convicts four more internet fraudsters arrested at Obasanjo library complex

The federal high court sitting in Lagos has convicted four more internet fraudsters arrested during a sting operation by officers of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) at a hotel within the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL) complex in Abeokuta, Ogun state, according TheCable.

Last week, EFCC operatives arrested 93 people suspected to be involved in internet fraud at a hotel within the precincts of the library.

Following the arrest, seven of the suspects were convicted separately for cybercrime-related offences.

In two separate judgements on Tuesday, Dehinde Dipeolu, the presiding judge, convicted and sentenced Olugbodi Adefolarin Pamilerin, Adenuga Ezekiel Oluwaseyi, Yusuf Ramon and Ganiyu Ibrahim for internet fraud.

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In the first ruling, Pamilerin and Oluwaseyi pleaded guilty to charges of impersonation, identity fraud, and retention of proceeds of crime.

Pamilerin admitted to fraudulently posing as “Emily Eddins” on Telegram and was found to have retained $160 obtained through deceit.

Franklin Ofoma, the EFCC prosecutor, presented evidence, including Pamilerin’s iPhone 14 and a N150,000 bank draft as restitution.

The judge sentenced him to one month’s imprisonment or an option of a N500,000 fine and ordered the forfeiture of the iPhone to the federal government.

“That you, Olugbodi Adefolarin Pamilerin (Male) sometime in 2025, within the Lagos Judicial Division of the Federal High Court of Nigeria, with intent to defraud, retained in your control the total sum of $160USD which were proceeds of criminal conduct, deceitfully obtained from unsuspecting members of the public, and you thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 17 of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (Establishment etc) Act No: 4 of 2004,” the charge against Pamilerin reads.

Oluwaseyi also pleaded guilty to impersonating a woman on Gmail accounts and retaining $1,000 from fraudulent activities.

Evidence tendered against him includes two iPhones (iPhone 15 Pro Max and iPhone 6S), a N1 million bank draft, and forensic investigation reports.

Oluwaseyi was sentenced to three months’ imprisonment or an option of a N2 million fine, with the confiscation of his devices and the bank draft.

“That you, Adenuga Ezekiel Oluwaseyi (Male), sometime in 2025, within the Lagos Judicial Division of the Federal High Court of Nigeria, fraudulently held out yourself as a lady in your gmail accounts, [email protected] and [email protected] to unsuspecting members of the public, with intent to gain advantage for yourself and you thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under section 22(2)(b) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition etc.) Act, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2015,” the charge against him reads.

“That you, Adenuga Ezekiel Oluwaseyi (Male), sometime in 2025, within the Lagos Judicial Division of the Federal High Court of Nigeria, with intent to defraud, retained in your control the total sum of $1000USD which were proceeds of criminal conduct, deceitfully obtained from unsuspecting members of the public, and you thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 17 of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (Establishment etc) Act No. 4 of 2004.”

In the other judgement, Dipeolu convicted and sentenced Ramon and Ibrahim for impersonation, identity and internet fraud.

TheCable