Adeyemi Israel Abiodun, Director of Logistics for the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Federal University, Oye-Ekiti Chapter, has been sentenced to one year in prison after being found guilty of internet fraud by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission’s (EFCC).
Abiodun was among 40 people found guilty on individual one-count charges before four judges of the Oyo State High Court, Ibadan, according to a statement from the anti-graft agency that announced the development.
Their crimes included impersonation, obtaining money under false pretense, obtaining property under false pretense, and forgery, all of which were in violation of Sections 419, 467, 484, 516, and 508 of the Criminal Code Law Cap 38, Laws of Oyo State, 2000.
Abiodun was said to have benefited N195, 274, 331.00 (One Hundred and Ninety-Five Million, Two Hundred and Seventy-Four Thousand, Three Hundred and Thirty One Naira) as a cumulative heist from cyber-fraud involving forgery of over 25 US bank cheques between July 2021 and March 2022.
Abiodun was charged before Justice Iyabo Yerima, while 39 other defendants were tried between August 15 and August 23, 2022, before Justices Bayo Taiwo, Akintola Ladiran, and Olusola Adetujoye.
“That you, Adeyemi Israel Abiodun and Odaise Precious Abiola (aka Prezzy) (at large) on or about 30th March, 2022 at Ibadan, within the Ibadan Judicial Division did conspire to forge various United States of America Banks Cheques and purport same to be genuine and thereby committed the offence of conspiracy to commit forgery contrary to Section 516 and 467 of the Criminal Code Law, Cap 38, Laws of Oyo State, 2000,” the charge against Abiodun read.
Abiodun and the others entered a “guilty” plea to the EFCC’s accusations leveled against them.
Akiniyi was sentenced to three months in jail and six months of community service, while Abiodun, Daniel, and Ayomide were found guilty and given one-year prison terms without the option of a fine.
Other defendants were convicted and sentenced to six months of community service each.
The court ordered Abiodun to forfeit to the Federal Government of Nigeria a white Mercedes Benz CLA-250 with a customized NANS plate number worth N16 million, two gold neck chains worth N3.6 million, one ice neck chain worth N3.6 million, bitcoin worth $58, 854.88 USD, one Apple MacBook Pro 2020 Model, and an iPhone 12 Pro Max. The court also ordered Abiodun to pay restitution in the amount of $1,000 USD (One Thousand United States Dollars).
Other convicts were ordered to restitute their victims and forfeit all items recovered from them.
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