Justice Mohammed Abubakar of the Federal High Court sitting in Abeokuta, Ogun State, on Friday jailed 16 internet fraudsters for criminal impersonation and possession of documents containing false pretences.
The convicts, who are in their mid 20s, are: Ajibola Ibikunle; Victor Solomon Osahun; Adeniyi Afeez Adebayo; Enitan Babajide Ganiu, Ashore Gbogbo Ayo and Sobayo Oladapo.
Others are Odebode Abiola Jamiu; Dairo Emmanuel Olajide; Stephen Mathew; Hussain Abdulkabir; Ayanniyi Quadri Ayansegun; Ajibike Kehinde Segun; Ibironke Tomiwa Emmanuel; Agboola Olanrewanju Shakiru, Abdulrauf Adam Opeyemi and Akinlabi Royal Ebube.
They all pleaded guilty to one-count charge of impersonation separately filed against them by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Ibadan zonal office.
After taking the pleas, prosecution counsel, Bashir Shamsuddeen, and Abdulrasheed Lanre Suleiman, had prayed the court to convict them accordingly, prompting the guilty verdict passed by the court.
Odebode was sentenced to two months imprisonment; Ajibola, Osahun, Adebayo, Enitan, Ashore, Matthew, Ajibike and Akinlabi were sentenced to three months jail each, while Ayanniyi, Sobayo, Ibironke and Abdulrauf bagged four months each.
Dairo and Abdulkabir were handed six months jail term each while Agboola was sentenced to eleven months imprisonment.
The convicts would forfeit all items recovered from them to the Federal Government of Nigeria, and also restitute sundry sums to their respective victims.
