The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC) Ibadan Office has arraigned twenty four online fraudsters most of whom are students of Olabisi Onabanjo University and the National Open University of Nigeria who were arrested for alleged involvement in various cyber crimes.
Ten of the defendants (online fraudsters) which include: Agboola Taiwo, Adetayo Tade Ademiluyi, Rabiu Daniel, Sokoya Oluwaseyi, Fredrick Shaibu, Oshikoya Gbolahan, Adegbola Kazeem Aina, Ademosun Opeyemi, Tosin Awobona and Babarinde Jacob were arraigned Monday, 10th December, 2018 before Hon. Justice Ibrahim Watilat of the Federal High Court, sitting in Abeokuta, Ogun State.
Fourteen other fraudsters comprising of Adeleke Oluwamayowa, Banjo Femi, Towolawi Olanrewaju, Tijani Babatunde, Sarafadeen Abibullahi, Adebowale Abimbola, Osunkoya Korede, Mufutau Yusuf Akorede, Salisu Ajibola, Olamikan Oluwasiji, Oduwole Gbenga, Damilare Adelaja, Bakare Azeez Adebola and Edward Ayodeji were arraigned on Tuesday 11th December, 2018 before Hon. Justice M. S. Abubakar of the Federal High Court 1 sitting in Abeokuta, Ogun State.
According to the report by EFCC the defendants were all arraigned on separate charges bordering on obtaining money by false pretences, impersonation and possession of fraudulent documents. They all pleaded not guilty to the charges preferred against them.
One of the counts against one of the accused persons (online fraudsters) reads:
“That you, Rabiu Daniel (a.K.a. Agent Howard Hall) on 23rd June, 2018 at Abeokuta within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court with intent to defraud, knowingly had in your possession documents containing false pretences to wit: an e-mail address, howardhall900@gmail.comwherein you represented yourself as; Agent Howard Hall, working for the Government/Facebook Compensation Bonus and Poverty Eradication, and other false pretences, thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 6, and punishable under Section 1 (3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act 2006”.
(EFCC).