From LAYI OLANREWAJU,Ilorin
The Ilorin Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Wednesday, September 29, 2021 secured the conviction of one Akinluyi Damilola Gabriel, a worker currently in the employ of Tranex Courier service, Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State capital, over offences bordering on internet related fraud and love scam.
Akinluyi, 29, was charged on one count by the anti-graft agency before Justice Mohammed Sani of the Federal High Court sitting in Ilorin.
He was among the 34-suspected internet fraudsters arrested in different locations of Ado Ekiti, Ekiti State Capital on March 8, 2021.
The Charge against the defendant reads:
“That you, Akinluyi Damilola Gabriel, sometime between January 2021 and February 2021 at Ado Ekiti within the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court fraudulently impersonated one Connor Matty via Gmail account [email protected] with intent to obtain $150.00 (One Hundred and Fifty Dollars) worth of itune gift card and which you did obtain from one Hollie Beilman and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 22(2)(ii) of the Cybercrime (Prohibition Prevention) Act, 2015 and punishable under Section 22 (2) (iv) of the same Act”.
The defendant pleaded guilty when the charge was read to him.
Upon his plea, counsel to the EFCC, Aliyu Adebayo, drew the attention of the court to the plea bargain agreement and the guilty plea entered by the defendant and urged the court to convict him as charged.
In his judgment, Justice Sanni sentenced Akinluyi to six months imprisonment with option of fine of N300,000 (Three Hundred Thousand Naira).
“The convict shall enter into an undertaking of good behaviour before this Honourable Court”, said the judge.
The court also ordered the forfeiture of the convict’s iPhone 7 and Motorola phone, which were used to perpetrate the crime to the Federal Government.