Justice Alexanda Owoeye of the Federal High Court
sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos, on Monday, July 21, 2025, convicted and sentenced the
duo of Damelda Damilola Sodiq and Samuel Paul Osayande to one year imprisonment
each for cybercrime.
They were arrested recently in the Ipaja Command area
of Lagos by operatives of the EFCC, following credible intelligence on the
activities of some internet fraudsters.
Investigations revealed that each of the
defendants had three bank accounts domiciled in United Bank of Africa
(UBA), Opay and Moniepoint, in addition to several email accounts , which they
used to defraud their unsuspecting victims.
They were subsequently arraigned on June
27, 2025 on separate one-count charge bordering on cybercrime by the Lagos
Zonal Directorate 2 of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.
The charge against Sodiq reads: “That
you, Damelda Damilola Sodiq, sometime between January and May, 2025
in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, fraudulently held
out yourself on TikTok, as an American actress from Atlanta, United States,
bearing the name "Regan Kay kaufman", with intent to get advantage
for yourself and you hereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable
under Section (22)3 of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition e.t.c) Act. 2015.”
The charge against Osanyande reads: “That you, Samuel
Paul Osayande, sometime between January and May, 2025 in Lagos, within the
jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, fraudulently held out yourself on
Instagram account, ajorgejaviervazquez, as a Spanish Television Presenter
bearing the name "Jorge Javier Vazquez", with intent to gain
advantage for yourself and you thereby committed an offence contrary to and
punishable under Section 22(3) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition etc.)
Act, 2015.”
They each pleaded “guilty” to the charges preferred
against them.
In view of their pleas, the prosecution counsel, A.A.
Usman called on Muhammad Sani Nuhu, an operative of the EFCC,
to review the facts of the matters.
Nuhu told the court that the defendants
were arrested sometime in May, 2025, following credible intelligence
received by the Commission on the activities of a syndicate of internet
fraudsters operating in the Ipaja Command area of Lagos State.
According to him, “an iPhone 11 was recovered from
Sodiq, while an IPhone 11 Pro Max and iPhone Xr were recovered from Paul upon
arrest.
"They were duly processed and the defendants
volunteered their statements under words of caution.
“Investigations were conducted and forensic evidence
was printed out from their phones.
“ Sodiq confessed that he was into modelling scam and
that he had benefited the sum of $400 ( Four Hundred United States Dollars).
“ Osayande confessed he was into romance scam and that
he had benefited the sum of $200(Two Hundred United States
Dollars).”
He also told the court that
Sodiq restituted the sum of N150,000 ( One Hundred and Fifty
Thousand Naira), while Osayande restituted the sum of N100,000(One Hundred
Thousand Naira) by tendering bank drafts.
Usman further sought to tender, in evidence, the
defendants’ extrajudicial statements, iPhone 11 Pro Max and iPhone XR recovered
from Osayande, the iPhone 11 recovered from Sodiq as well as the
forensic investigation document printed out from both phones.
Justice Owoeye admitted them as exhibits.
Justice Owoeye convicted and sentenced
Sodiq to one year imprisonment, with an option of fine of N150,000(One Hundred
and Eighty Thousand Naira).
The Judge also convicted and sentenced Osayande to one
year imprisonment, with an option of fine of N100,000( One Hundred Thousand
Naira).
The sentences are to commence from May 16,2025.
The Judge also ordered that their iPhone 11 Pro Max ,
iPhone XR, iPhone 11 and bank drafts be forfeited to the Federal Government of
Nigeria.
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