Four men convicted for internet fraud, to restitute to foreign victims

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Ibadan Zonal Office, on Thursday, March 7, 2019 secured the conviction of Adegbola Kazeem Aina (a.k.a Marry Linson), Babarinde Jacob (a.k.a Rhonda Luna), Sokoya Oluwaseyi and Mufutau Yusuf Akorede.

They were each  convicted of one-court charge bordering on impersonation and sending of pornographic and indecent pictures.

The trio of Adegbola, Babarinde and Sokoya were tried by Hon. Justice Watilat Ibrahim of the Federal High Court 2, Abeokuta, Ogun State, who found them guilty of their individual offences, convicted and sentenced them to prison.

But Mufutau’s conviction was pronounced by Hon. Justice S. M. Abubakar of the Federal High Court 1, Abeokuta, Ogun State. The judge held that the prosecution proved the case against him beyond every reasonable doubt.

The first, second and third convicts were initially arraigned on December 10, 2018, while the fourth convict was arraigned on December 11, 2018. They, however, opted to plea guilty to the charges preferred against them.

Justice Ibrahim convicted and sentenced Adegbola to five months imprisonment with effect from the date of his arrest, and also ordered that he shall restitute through the Federal Republic of Nigeria to his victims, the sum of $1, 080 US Dollars, Phone and Laptop being proceeds from his fraudulent acts.

Babarinde was convicted and sentenced to four months imprisonment, also with effect from the date of his arrest, and shall forfeit and restitute the sum of $250 US Dollars and his iphone 7 to the Federal Government of Nigeria, being part of the proceeds derived from his fraudulent acts.

Sokoya, however, bagged four months imprisonment starting from the date of his arrest.

After declaring him guilty as charged, Justice Abubarka consequently convicted and sentenced Mufutau to four months imprisonment, ordering that he forfeit his phone and $140 US Dollars to the Federal Government, being proceeds of his crime.