A Federal High Court sitting in Abeokuta, Ogun State, has convicted four internet fraudsters, known as “Yahoo boys” and ordered them to refund $6,100 to the victims.
The convicts, Olawale Ibrahim Damilare, Goodluck Sambo Olatayo, Mathew Anuoluwapo Awoniyi and Samson Olawale Ayomide, were arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Ibadan Zonal Office, on Tuesday.
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They pleaded guilty to one-count amended charge of fraudulent impersonation. The offence is contrary to Section 22 (2) (b) 1 and punishable under Section 22 (2) (b) of Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc) Act 2015.
In view of their guilty plea, the prosecution counsel, Oyelakin Oyediran, reviewed the case and urged the court to convict the defendants accordingly.
In his judgement, Justice Mohammed Abubakar convicted and sentenced Olawale Ibrahim Damilare and Goodluck Sambo Olatayo to three-month and four-month imprisonment respectively, while Matthew Anuoluwapo Awoniyi and Samson Olawale Ayomide were also convicted and sentenced to seven and eight months respectively.
Justice Abubakar ordered the convicts to refund various sums to their victims as follows: Olawale, $1,500; Olatayo, $500; Awoniyi, $100 and N232, 000 and Ayomide, $4,000.
