28th May, 2025
Three young men in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, have been convicted for internet-related offences after they were caught impersonating individuals online to scam unsuspecting victims.
Justice Abimbola Awogboro of the Federal High Court in Ilorin, on Tuesday, May 27, 2025, sentenced Ibrahim Ajisafe Oladimeji, Hassan Abdulmalik Temitope, and Babatunde David Olusegun following their arraignment by the Ilorin Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on separate charges of cybercrime and impersonation.
According to a statement by the EFCC spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, each of the convicts pleaded guilty to their charges when read in court. The EFCC presented statements from the accused and various items recovered from them during arrest, including phones and a vehicle.
One of the convicts, Hassan Abdulmalik Temitope, who posed online as a woman named “Jane,” was said to have deceived an American victim into sending him $2,500. The court found him guilty and sentenced him to 700 hours of community service, to be served five hours daily without an option of fine. Temitope also forfeited an iPhone 12 and a 2009 Toyota Camry linked to the fraudulent activity.
In a similar case, Ibrahim Ajisafe Oladimeji was sentenced to 150 hours of community service, also without an option of fine. The court ordered the forfeiture of his iPhone 12 Pro and $100, which were found to be proceeds of his crime.
Babatunde David Olusegun was handed a sentence of 150 hours of community service and was ordered to surrender his iPhone 12 and $75 to the federal government.
The EFCC noted that these convictions are part of ongoing efforts to clamp down on cybercrime and ensure that perpetrators are made to face the full weight of the law.
“We will continue to pursue fraudsters who hide behind technology to exploit others. Justice is not just about punishment, it is also about deterrence and recovery,” the EFCC spokesperson stated.
