Kwara court jails three for cybercrime, orders forfeiture of cash to FG

A Kwara state high court sitting in Ilorin has sentenced three persons to prison terms for committing financial crimes.

The convicts are Omotosho Olorunyomi, a graduate of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH); Abass Lawal, a student of the Kwara State University (KWASU) and one Olajide Adegoke.

The three men, who are to serve their jail terms at the correctional centre in Ilorin, were convicted on separate two count charges bordering on cybercrime, preferred against them by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

They were, however, given options of fines, as appropriate.

Sikiru Oyinloye, presiding judge, while delivering judgment on Friday, said the court relied on the evidence of the prosecution, the guilty pleas entered by the defendants and the testimonies of the prosecution witnesses.

Oyinloye said the court was satisfied with the prosecution, who had proved their case beyond a reasonable doubt.

On count one, Olorunyomi was sentenced to one year imprisonment and six months imprisonment on count two. However, he has an option of a N100,000 fine on each of the counts.

He was ordered the forfeit the sum of $1, 350 and N929, 389, domiciled in his Guaranty Trust Bank account to the federal government.

The court also ordered the forfeiture of the Mac Book laptop and iPhone 11 Pro Max, used to commit the crime, to the federal government.

Similarly, the judge sentenced Lawal to one year imprisonment on each of the two counts preferred against him, which would run concurrently, with an option of N50, 000 fine on each of the counts. The convict was also ordered to forfeit the iPhone 11 Pro Max used in committing the crime to the federal government.

Adegoke, the third defendant who the judge described as “a serial liar” was sentenced to one year imprisonment, on count one, with the option of a N100,000 fine. And two years imprisonment on count two with the option of N3,107, 215 fine.

The judge also ordered the forfeiture of  N300,000 bank draft which the convict raised as restitution, and the iPhone used to perpetrate the crime, to the federal government.