In its ongoing efforts to eradicate cybercrime in Nigeria, the Ilorin Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has secured the conviction of five individuals involved in internet fraud.
The convicts—Ayinla Abiodun Abdulmajid, Yusuf Abdulazeez Onimisi, Muhammed Zayad Eneye, Abdulbasit Abdulmumeen, and Victor Onucheyo Anibe—were arraigned before both the Federal High Court and Kwara State High Courts sitting in Ilorin, Kwara State.
Court Proceedings and Charges:
Ayinla, Yusuf, and Muhammed were arraigned before Justice Abimbola Awogboro of the Federal High Court.
Abdulbasit and Victor appeared before Justices Sulaiman Akanbi and Haleema Saleeman of the Kwara State High Court, respectively.
Each defendant faced separate charges bordering on cybercrime and fraudulent impersonation with intent to defraud foreign nationals via digital platforms such as Google Hangout and Telegram.
For example, Ayinla was charged with impersonating one Michael Cavezza to defraud a victim of $1,003, while Yusuf, using the alias Mikaylah, impersonated Mulan Tuition to defraud an unsuspecting victim of $300.
All five defendants pleaded guilty to the charges.
Convictions and Sentences:
Following a review of facts by EFCC prosecution counsel Innocent Mbachie, Sesan Ola, and Mustapha Kaigama, the court found the evidence—including extra-judicial confessions and recovered digital devices—credible and unchallenged.
The justices delivered the following sentences:
Ayinla Abiodun Abdulmajid:
9 months imprisonment (no option of fine)
Forfeiture of $702, an iPhone 14 Pro Max, a Redmi phone, and an HP laptop to the Federal Government.
Yusuf Abdulazeez Onimisi:
3 months imprisonment (no option of fine)
Forfeiture of $300 and a Samsung S31 phone to the Federal Government.
Muhammed Zayad Eneye:
400 hours of community service
Forfeiture of his HP laptop.
Abdulbasit Abdulmumeen:
2 years imprisonment OR fine of ₦400,000
Must sweep the Kwara State High Court premises for 2 months under the supervision of the Nigerian Correctional Service.
Forfeiture of $145 and an iPhone 11.
Victor Onucheyo Anibe:
2 years imprisonment OR fine of ₦600,000
Forfeiture of ₦4 million, one iPhone 16 Pro Max, and a Samsung phone.
The EFCC reaffirmed its commitment to combating cybercrime and advised young Nigerians to shun internet fraud and pursue lawful livelihoods.
