Conviction of Four Students for Internet Fraud Offenses
A 25-year-old final-year polytechnic student, Olaitan Abdulwahab Damilare, and three others were recently sentenced to various prison terms by Justice Mahmud Abdulgafar for offenses related to internet fraud. The case was brought before the court by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in Ilorin, where the defendants were found guilty of multiple charges involving deceit and false pretenses.
The four individuals were taken to court on Monday, July 14, 2025, and their convictions were confirmed after a thorough legal process. According to a statement released by the EFCC’s Head of Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale, Olaitan was sentenced to six months in prison by Justice Mahmud Abdulgafar of the Kwara State High Court. He was convicted alongside Maruf Quadri Kolawole, Habeeb Abiodun Jimoh, and Mubarak Moruf. However, Mubarak’s conviction was handled by Justice Sulaiman Akanbi of another division of the same court.
Nature of the Offenses
The defendants faced separate charges under Sections 321 and 324 of the Penal Code, which pertain to cheating by personation and obtaining property under false pretenses. Each defendant had specific allegations against them, detailing how they deceived victims through online interactions.
For instance, the charge against Olaitan stated that he dishonestly induced a man named Michael to send him gift cards worth $2,100. He did this by pretending to be “Fav,” a white woman in a romantic relationship with Michael. This act violated Section 321 of the Penal Code and was punishable under Section 324.
Similarly, Maruf was accused of impersonating a person named Frank Matt on Facebook. He convinced Philip Solomon to send him 950 Australian dollars under this guise, which also constituted an offense under the same legal provisions.
Habeeb and Mubarak were also involved in similar fraudulent activities, each with their own unique circumstances and victims.
Legal Proceedings and Sentences
All four defendants pleaded guilty to their respective charges. During the trial, the prosecution counsel, Aliyu Adebayo and Mustapha Kaigama, presented evidence including extrajudicial statements from the defendants, items recovered during their arrest, and restitution payments made by the accused.
The judges found the evidence unchallenged and proceeded to deliver their verdicts. Justice Abdulgafar sentenced Olaitan to six months in the Nigerian Correctional Service in Ilorin. Additionally, he ordered the forfeiture of $2,000, one iPhone XR, and one Samsung phone, which were proceeds from the illegal activities.
Maruf received a six-month sentence and was required to forfeit his iPhone 13 Pro Max and $950. Habeeb was also sentenced to six months in prison and had to surrender his iPhone 14 Pro Max, an HP laptop, and $365.
In a separate ruling, Justice Akanbi sentenced Mubarak to one year in prison or a fine of N400,000. He also ordered the forfeiture of Mubarak’s iPhone 15 Pro Max, iPhone 7, and $300.
These sentences reflect the severity of the crimes committed and serve as a warning against engaging in fraudulent activities, particularly those conducted via the internet.
