Gbenro Adesina
Justice Mohammed Abubakar of the Federal High Court, Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria today sentenced 10 fraudsters to various jail terms
The fraudsters include two brothers, Beyioku Olatunji alias Bashorun and Beyioku Oluwayomi Oluwafemi alias Ola 1, for claiming to be staff of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to defraud innocent Nigerians.
Other convicts include: Adeleke Ridwan Adekunle, AbdulFatai Waliu, Adelani Sarafa Yomi, Folarin Ikeoluwa Akinleye, Adebisi Abiola Victor, Adio Toheeb Oladimeji, Ogundulu Oluwashola Temitope and Amoo Rilwan Babatunde.
The Beyioku brothers were first arraigned before the court on January 23, 2020, on 18-count charges bordering on conspiracy, impersonation, forgery, money laundering and obtaining money under false pretenses. They pleaded not guilty when the charges was read to them.
The duo thereafter approached the commission for a plea bargain.
However, during the court proceeding today, they joined other accused to plead guilty of the allegations levelled against them.
Following their pleas, prosecution counsel Murtala Usman, Oyelakin Oyediran and Shamsuddeen Bashir, prayed the court to convict them accordingly.
Justice Abubakar, in his judgment, convicted and sentenced Beyioku Olatunji, Joe Oladapo and Beyioku Oluwayomi Oluwafemi to 18 months imprisonment from the day of arrest without option of fine, while Adelani bagged 12 months imprisonment without option of fine.
Adio was jailed six months with an option of N200, 000 fine; Adeleke, and Waliu four months imprisonment with an option of N100, 000 fine, while Ogundulu bagged four months with an option of N150, 000 fine.
Amoo was given three months jailed term with an option of N200, 000 fine, while Adebisi, and Folarin were sentenced to three months imprisonment with an option of N150, 000 fine each
The court also ordered the convicts to pay restitutions to their victims. The Beyioku brothers are to restitute to their victim, Tawakalitu Lasisi, through the EFCC the total sum of N1,450,000; Adelani – $3,900; Adeleke – $750; Wali – $130; Folarin- $500; Adebisi – $800 and N26,000Adio – $1,500; Ogundulu – $100 and Amoo – N990,694,66.
The Beyioku brothers are to forfeit the following items: two Iphone 11, one white Nokia mobile phone, one black Iphone8 plus mobile handset, one small black Nokia mobile phone, one black 4G LTE MTN mobile WiFi, one Gold Apple watch series 3 42MM, three Nigeria Police warrant cards belonging to Beyioku Yomi, one Nigeria Police warrant card belonging to Olatunji Joe, one gold necklace, one Honda Crosstour V6 with registration No: BASHORUN, one Mercedes Benz GLK 350 4MATIC with registration number OLA1
The eight other convicts are also to forfeit all items recovered from them to the Federal Government of Nigeria.
