Eleven Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) students found themselves facing allegations of internet fraud as they appeared before Justice Nathaniel Ayo-Emmanuel of the Federal High Court in Osogbo, Osun State, on November 6, 2023. The Ibadan Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) arraigned these students, each on multiple charges, marking a significant development in the ongoing battle against cybercrime.
The accused students include Perekebena Olombeni Micah, Nnekwelugo Nnaemeka, Moyosore Favour Oluwasakin, Aghwaritoma Wisdom Obaro, Daniel Olashile Maiye, Gbolahan Khalid Adesina, Yinka Temitope Jayeola, Olumuyiwa Emmanuel Adeleye, Abiola Emmanuel Oluwadare, Busari Abdulazeez Ayodeji, and Okesipe Tobiloba Paul.
The EFCC brought forth an assortment of charges against them, ranging from one to six counts for each individual, reflecting the severity of the allegations. Nine of the defendants faced single-count charges, while Micah and Obaro had to contend with a total of six counts each. These charges were meticulously drafted by the EFCC, as per the official statement released by the agency.
One of the charges specified, "That you, Perekebena Olombeni Micah, sometimes in 2023 in Osogbo, Osun State, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did fraudulently impersonate the name – Pies through your WhatsApp account phone number +1(414)367-9473 by claiming that you are an American Female in love with your victims in the United States of America with intent to gain advantage for yourself and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 22 (2) (b) (i) and punishable under Section 22 (2) (b) of the Cyber Crimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2015."
Another count charged Aghwaritoma Wisdom Obaro, alleging that he, "on or about 1st November, 2023 at Ile-Ife, Osun State, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, fraudulently impersonated by representing yourself to be a white man by name Alex Stephens from the United States of America to one Megan Johnson, through your Google Chat and your email address (alexsteps678@gmail.com) with intent to gain advantage for yourself and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 22 (2) (b) (i) and punishable under Section 22 (2) (b) of the Cyber Crimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2015."
During the arraignment, all the accused students pleaded not guilty to the charges laid against them. The prosecution counsel, Oluwatoyin Owodunni, subsequently requested trial dates and the remand of the defendants at a Correctional Centre.
In response, the defense counsels for Ayodeji, Adesina, Oluwasakin, Micah, Adeleye, and Okesipe informed the court of the "motions for bail applications" they had filed on behalf of their clients. They had already served these applications to the prosecution and urged the court to grant bail to these six defendants on the most lenient terms.
Justice Ayo-Emmanuel, after considering the arguments presented by both parties, granted bail to Ayodeji, Adesina, Oluwasakin, Micah, Adeleye, and Okesipe. Ayodeji, Adesina, Oluwasakin, Adeleye, and Okesipe were each granted bail in the amount of Two Million Naira (N2,000,000) while Micah received bail set at Three Million Naira (N3,000,000). The bail conditions included the requirement of two sureties, with the first being a parent and the second being a relative, sibling, clergy, or civil servant employed by the Osun State Government. These sureties were to provide affidavits of means and have their residential and office addresses verified by the court registrar.
The court adjourned the proceedings to November 29 and December 12, 2023, for the commencement of the trial and remanded the defendants at the Ilesha Correctional Centre, Osun State, until they could fulfill their bail conditions.
These students were part of a group of sixty-nine suspected internet fraudsters apprehended on November 1, 2023, at the Oduduwa Estate area of Ile-Ife in Osun State. Their arrest came as a result of actionable intelligence concerning their alleged involvement in fraudulent internet-related activities.
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