On August 11, 2022, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission’s (EFCC) Ibadan Zonal Command successfully obtained the conviction of five cybercriminals on separate counts of impersonation in violation of Section 484 of the Criminal Code Law, Cap 38, Laws of Oyo State, 2000, before Justice Iyabo Yerima of the Oyo State High Court, Ibadan.
The defendants are Shonola Gafar Opeyemi, Ojekale Samuel Ayodimeji, Azeez Toheeb Oluwatemilorun, Ayomide Michael Eniola, and Adetona Oladimeji Abdulazeez.
“That you, Shonola Gafar Opeyemi ‘M’ on or about the 16th of June 2022 at Ibadan, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, with intent to defraud, did falsely represent yourself to be Lewa David, which representation you knew to be false, and thereby committed the offence of impersonation contrary to Section 484 of the Criminal Code Law Cap 38, Laws of Oyo State, 2000,” reads the charge against the latter.
The charge against Ojekale reads: “That you, Ojekale Samuel Ayodimeji on or about the 16th day of June, 2022 at Ibadan, Oyo State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, with intent to defraud one Kristin J. Smith falsely represented yourself as Jenifer Wills, a white lady from the United States of America, which representation you knew to be false and thereby committed the offence of impersonation contrary to Section 484 of the Criminal Code Law Cap 38, Laws of Oyo State, 2000.”
The charge against Oluwatemilorun reads, “That you, Azeez Toheeb Oluwatemilorun on or about 30th March, 2022, at Ibadan within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court with intent to defraud, gained an advantage for yourself when you impersonated and represented yourself to be a white American female by the name of Kim Hairby Yvonne from the United States of America and other pretences you knew to be false and thereby committed the offence of impersonation contrary to Section 484 of the Criminal Code Law Cap 38, Laws of Oyo State, 2000.”
The charge preferred against Eniola reads: “That you, Ayomide Michael Eniola ‘M’ sometime in May, 2022 at Ibadan, Oyo State, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, with intent to defraud, did falsely represent yourself to be a female who goes by the name Debra Rene Click, from Florida, United States of America and other false representations, which you knew to be false and you thereby committed the offence personation contrary to Section 484 of the Criminal Code Law Cap 38, Laws of Oyo State, 2000.”
The charge against Adetona reads: “That you, Adetona Oladimeji Abdulazeez ‘M’ on or about the 16th of June, 2022 at Ibadan, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, with intent to defraud, did falsely represent yourself to be Dora Maccarty, which representation you knew to be false, thereby committed the offence of impersonation contrary to Section 484 of the Criminal Code Law Cap 38, Laws of Oyo State, 2000.”
They entered a “guilty” plea to the allegations brought forth by the EFCC.
As a result, Abdulrasheed Lanre Suleiman, the prosecution’s attorney, urged the court to find the defendants guilty and impose the appropriate punishment.
Ayodimeji, Oluwatemilorun, Eniola, and Opeyemi were were found guilty and given six months of community service apiece by Justice Yerima, while Abdulazeez received three months.
Also, the convicts were ordered to restitute their victims and forfeit all the items recovered from them to the Federal Government of Nigeria.
