The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Ibadan zonal office, on Thursday, June 25, 2020, secured the conviction of one Michael Temitope Owolabi, over internet-related fraud.

Justice Nathaniel Ayo-Emmanuel, of the Federal High Court, Osogbo, Osun State, pronounced Owolabi guilty of one-count amended charge of criminal impersonation and sentenced him to nine months imprisonment.

Justice Ayo- Emmanuel stated that the convict contravened Section 22(2) (b) (ii) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention Etc) Act, 2015 and punishable under Section 22 (2) of the same Act.

Before his conviction, the convict pleaded not guilty to the charge filed against him when he was first arraigned on November 27, 2019.  He, however,  pleaded guilty in a fresh arrangement.

After pleading guilty to the amended charge, prosecution counsel, Lanre Abdulresheed, urged the court to convict him accordingly.

Justice Ayo-Emmanuel convicted Owolabi to nine months imprisonment with effect from October 14, 2019, when he was arrested.

The Judge also ordered him to return to his victim, the sum of $700 (Seven Hundred United States of American Dollars) and to forfeit the items recovered from him to the Federal Government of Nigeria.




Media & Publicity
26/06/2020