EFCC Arraigns Ex-Legislative Aide Over N6.5m Fraud As Three Other Fraudsters Bag Jail Terms for Cybercrime

The Ilorin Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), on Wednesday, arraigned one Segun Emmanuel Oni, a Personal Assistant to former Senator representing Kwara South Senatorial District, Senator Simeon Ajibola, for criminal breach of trust and fraud to the tune of N6.5million.

Oni, 42, from Isapa in Ekiti Local Government Area of Kwara State was arraigned before Justice Sikiru Oyinloye of the Kwara State High Court sitting in Ilorin on a two-count charge contrary to Section 311 of the Penal Code Law and punishable under Section 312 of the same Penal Code.

Oni was allegedly entrusted with two Toyota Siena mini bus and one Toyota Rave4 by one Mr. Samson Adewoye, which he sold and converted the proceed to personal use.

The defendant pleaded not guilty when the charge was read to him.

Following his plea, counsel to the EFCC, Rashidat Alao, urged the court to fix a date for trial to enable the Commission prove its case.

He also prayed the court to remand the defendant in the custody of the Nigeria Correctional Centre pending trial.

But, the defence counsel, Rasaq Ayodeji Saka, urged the court to admit the defendant to bail pending trial.

Justice Oyinloye granted bail to the defendant in the sum of N2million with two sureties in like sum. One of the sureties must have a landed property within the jurisdiction of the court and must submit two recent passports to the court.

The case has been adjourned till May 17, 2022 for commencement of trial.

In another development, the Commission also secured the conviction of three persons charged before the Federal High Court and Kwara State High Court in Ilorin for offences bordering on cybercrime.

The convicts: Abdulrahman Abdulmateen, a barber from Omun-Aran in Irepodun Local Government Area of Kwara State and Oyeniyi Bukola Peter from Ila Local Government Area of Osun State and one Abdulazeez Mubarak from Mushin Area of Lagos State.

While Abdulrahman and Oyeniyi were prosecuted before Justice Muhammed Sani of the Federal High Court, Abdulazeez was tried before Justice Adenike Akinpelu of the State High Court both in Ilorin.

The defendants, who were prosecuted on separate charges pleaded guilty to their respective charge.

Following their pleas, Innocent Mbachie and Sesan Ola who represented the Commission in the three cases urged the court to consider the plea of guilt, the extra-judicial statements of the defendants, and other exhibits tendered and hold that the prosecution had proved its case beyond reasonable doubt. They prayed the court to convict them as charged.

Justice Sani sentenced Abdulrahman to six months imprisonment with option of fine N100,000 (One Hundred Thousand Naira Only). The judge ordered that one apple iphone x recovered from the convict at the point of arrest be forfeited to the Federal Government. The court also ordered the restitution of the sum of $50 (Fifty US Dollars) which is a proceed of the unlawful activities by the convict.

In the same vein, Justice Sani sentenced Oyeniyi to six months imprisonment with option of fine N200,000 (Two Hundred Thousand Naira Only). The court ordered that one iphone x plus, Dell laptop and Lexus 300 car procured with the proceeds of unlawful activities by the convict be forfeited to the Federal Government.

For Abdulazeez, Justice Akinpelu pronounced a prison term of six months with option of fine N150,000 (One Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira Only). The convict would also forfeit one iphone 12 promax, which he used to perpetrate the crime and one 2008 Toyota Corolla Car which he bought with the proceeds of crime to the Federal Government.

Edited by Felix Ajide

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