By Kayode Adeoti
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Ilorin Zonal
office yesterday secured the conviction of three persons charged on
offences bordering on internet fraud.
The convicts are; Akeem Mustapha (Alias Patricia Cuppa), Abolarin
Samuel Sunday (Alias Cindy Holland) and Murtala Abdulrasheed (Alias
Cindy Holland).
They were convicted and sentenced to one year imprisonment by a Kwara
State High Court sitting in Ilorin and presided over by Justice
Mustapha Abdulgafar after pleading guilty to one count amended charge
levelled against them by the anti-graft agency.
The one count amended charge reads, “That you, Murtala Abdulrasheed (
Alias Cindy Holland), sometime in February, 2019 at Ilorin within the
judicial division of the Kwara State High Court, did attempt to cheat
by impersonation, when you pretended to be one Daniel Aaron; a Vice
Admiral in the USA Navy who is single Dad, a representation you knew
to be false and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 95 of
the Penal Code and punishable under section 324 of the same penal
code”
When the matter was called for hearing on Wednesday, Prosecuting
Counsel, Andrew Akoja told Justice Abdulgafar “The defendants have
entered into a plea bargain agreement with the commission, We have a
one count amended charge filed on the 25th of June 2019, is a plea
bargain agreement, the same has been served on the accused persons, we
urge the court to direct them to take their pleas.
Counsel to the Accused, S.O Babakebe however confirmed the plea
bargain agreement.
While reviewing facts of the case, an operative of the EFCC, Ushie
Simon Okom told the court ” Sometimes in February 2019, the Economic
and Financial Crimes Commission received intelligence reports about
the activities of some internet fraudsters around Irewolede area of
Ilorin, we moved straight to the scene and conducted a search on
their residence, they were arrested, items like phones and laptops
were recovered from them, when they opened their email addresses, the
commission discovered that they have made various false
representation, they presented themselves as females and sent various
nude photographs to their victims,” he said.
Justice Abdulgafar after hearing the two parties, said, “In view of
the plea bargain agreements dated 25th of June 2019, the accused
persons are hereby convicted in line with the terms and conditions
agreed by the parties”
The Presiding Judge further stated that the defendants are hereby
sentenced to a one year imprisonment effective from 12th of February
2019 when they were arrested and all the items recovered from them
forfeited to the Federal Government.
