The Lagos Zonal Directorate 2 of the Economic and
Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC , has secured the conviction and sentence of
one Ademola Ayobani Idris for internet fraud before Justice D.I. Dipeolu of the
Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi , Lagos.
He was arraigned on Friday, August 1, 2025 on a
one-count charge bordering on cybercrime.
The count reads: “That you, Ademola Ayobami Idris,
sometime 2021 in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court,
fraudulently held out yourself on Google mail as Mike Samorano, an American
recruiter ,with intent to gain advantage for yourself, and you thereby
committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 22 (2) ( b) of
the Cybercrimes (Prohibition.) Act, 2015.”
He pleaded “guilty” to the charge preferred against
him.
In view of his guilty plea, prosecution
counsel, A.A.Umsan, called on Kamal Musa Jubril, an operative
of the EFCC,to give a review of the facts.
Jubril stated that Idris was arrested by
operatives of the EFCC during a sting operation at the Alagbado
area of Lagos State, following intelligence received by the
Commission about the activities of some internet fraudsters in the area.
According to him, the defendant was arrested
with an iphone 15 promax, which he broke upon sighting the EFCC operatives.
“He claimed to be a cryptocurrency trader and that he
was not involved in any fraud.
“He, however, later confessed to be into online
employment fraud.
“He disclosed that he usually sent random emails of
non-existing jobs to his unsuspecting victims after getting their contact
details on Craigslist App ,” he said.
Continuing, he told the court that “the defendant
claimed to have benefited the sum of $400 (Four Hundred United States Dollars)
from his fraudulent activities.
“He also restituted the sum of N300,000.00 (Three Hundred Thousand Naira).”
Usman, thereafter, sought to tender, in
evidence, the defendant’s extrajudicial statements, iPhone 15 pro max and
forensic investigation documents print out, which were all admitted as
exhibits.
Justice Dipeolu, consequently, convicted and sentenced
the defendant to three months imprisonment, without an option of fine.
The Judge also ordered that the sum of N300,000 in
restitution and the iPhone 15 promax be forfeited to the Federal Government of
Nigeria.
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