Babatunji Wusu –
-
Five individuals convicted for cybercrime-related offenses in Ilorin Federal and Kwara State High Courts.
-
Offenses involved fraudulent impersonation and illegal acquisition of funds via online platforms.
-
Sentences include imprisonment, community service, fines, and forfeiture of proceeds and devices.
-
The EFCC prosecuted the cases based on unchallenged evidence, including confessions and recovered items.
The Ilorin Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has successfully secured the conviction of five individuals for various cybercrime offenses. The defendants, tried before the Federal and Kwara State High Courts in Ilorin, include Ayinla Abdulmajid, Yusuf Onimisi, Muhammed Eneye, Abdulbasit Abdulmumeen, and Victor Anibe.
Ayinla, Yusuf, and Muhammed were prosecuted before Justice Abimbola Awogboro at the Federal High Court, while Abdulbasit and Victor faced trial before Justices Sulaiman Akanbi and Haleema Saleeman at the Kwara State High Court, respectively.
Ayinla Abdulmajid, alias Michael Cavezza, was found guilty of fraudulently impersonating a third party via Google Hangouts between March and May 2025, defrauding a victim of $1,003. Yusuf Onimisi, alias Mikaylah, similarly impersonated another individual on Telegram between November and December 2024, obtaining $300 through deceit. Both were convicted under the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc.) Act of 2015.
All defendants pleaded guilty to their charges. During prosecution, witnesses testified and presented extra-judicial statements and recovered items as evidence. The courts upheld the prosecutions and delivered verdicts accordingly.
Justice Awogboro sentenced Ayinla to nine months imprisonment without an option of fine, ordering forfeiture of $702 and several electronic devices to the federal government. Yusuf received three months imprisonment and forfeiture of $300 alongside a Samsung S31 phone. Muhammed was sentenced to 400 hours of community service and forfeiture of his HP laptop.
Justice Akanbi sentenced Abdulbasit to two years imprisonment or a N400,000 fine, coupled with a mandate to perform community service sweeping the Kwara State High Court premises for two months. The court also ordered forfeiture of $145 and an iPhone 11. Justice Saleeman sentenced Victor to two years imprisonment with an option of a N600,000 fine, ordering forfeiture of N4 million restitution and electronic devices.
