70% of Nigerian Youths May Soon Become Ex-convicts, Says EFCC

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*Anti-graft agency records 33 convictions in 24
Hours

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), has said
more than 70 per cent of Nigerian youth might soon become
ex-convicts if the present high rate of their involvement in
cybercrime was not stopped.

This is as the Benin Zonal Command of the agency, yesterday,
secured the conviction of three cyber criminals before Justice A.
T. Mohammed of the Federal High Court sitting Port Harcourt, Rivers
State, bringing to 33 the number of internet fraud convictions
recorded by the zone within 24 hours.

The Ilorin zonal commander of the EFCC, Mr. Usman Muktar, while
speaking with journalists on the state of the nation, decried the
high rate of cybercrime among youths and enjoined every stakeholder
in the country to discourage the youths from internet fraud.

Muktar, who said the EFCC had witnessed an increasing number of
arrest of Nigerian youths in cybercrime in recent time, charged
parents to ask their children questions about sources of their
wealth.

“When your children, who are in schools stopped asking you for
money for upkeep or driving expensive cars, parents should ask
questions. Unfortunately, some parents support these youth in
internet fraud. They say it’s oyinbo money. How does that turn to
be your money?”, he asked.

He lamented that free money from cybercrimes led to the use and
sales of hard drugs and drug abuse, saying all hands must be on
deck to save the situation.

Muktar added: “Corruption among elected political office holders
is also a cause for concern. People should ask questions about
projects and quality of work/projects. It would make them sit up.
Such programmes like TV/radio documentaries, write ups, whistle
blowing etc should be encouraged as we call on media to join in the
anti-corruption fight.”

The commander warned fraudsters to desist from engaging in acts
of corruption and steer clear of the three states under his
command, saying, the “eagle eyes” of the Commission was widely open
and ready to catch any corrupt individual, anytime, anywhere.
He described the media as a crucial partner in preventing
corruption, economic and financial crimes in Nigeria.

“The task of fighting economic and financial crimes is
painstaking and broad-based and should be embraced by all strata of
the society with the media serving as channel of communication and
enlightenment.

“Commission depends greatly on the media to achieve success in
the anti-graft campaign, especially, as it affects the prevention
mandate, which is hinged on Section 6 of the EFCC Establishment
Act.

“Without a doubt, the media is a critical stakeholder in the
anti-graft war. With your pen, you could make or mar the fight
against corruption. The media’s potential to inform and educate the
people is crucial for us.

“We believe that on our own, we cannot win the war against
corruption without a buy-in by the people. This is where the
support of the media comes in. We need the media to help sensitise
the people on the ills of corruption and economic crimes”.

Still on cybercrime, the Zonal Commander stated that, “The
Command, which covers Kwara, Ekiti and Kogi States is engaging
relevant stakeholders including religious and traditional leaders,
Civil Society Organisations, CSOs and the youths with a view to
sensitising them on the inherent dangers of corruption. My Command
is certainly not going to be a safe haven for cyber criminals,” he
added.

Meanwhile, the Benin zone had on Wednesday August 25, 2021
secured 30 convictions before Justice A. T. Mohammed of the Federal
High Court sitting Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

The convicted internet fraudsters were arraigned separately on
one count charge bordering on impersonation and obtaining by false
pretences.
They are Okei Morrison Onome, Ejiro Nwaju, Oki Alex Efe, Omoghene
Gift, Collins Odinaka, Onyue Martins Ifeanyi, Azubuike Christian,
Achiever Effiong, Adeniyi Michael Femi, Eze John Paul, Akinayomide
James, Adejube Isaac Oluwadunsin, Isaac Phillip, Ibrahim Olalekan
Olagoke and Paul Obinna Thomas.

Others are Damilola Michael, Umoru Mosuru, Dotun Ogunboye
Olaleye, Adekunle Joshua, Elliot Igunbor, Ezomo Junior, David
Oluwatobi, Ereoman Emmanuel, Oyetunde Victor Temitope, Nurudeen
Abiodun Imole and Adeboye Victor.

The charge against one of them read: “That you Adebuje Isaac
Oluwadunsin on the 5th day of August, 2021 at Ondo State within the
jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did fraudulently impersonate
the identity of one Michelle Orton a white woman and citizen of the
United States of America in your Samsung S8 and email address
cryptohackweb@gmail.com to gain advantage for yourself and you
thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 22(2)(b)(i) and
(ii) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc) Act 2015 and
punishable under Section 22(2)(iv) of the same Act.”

Three sureties who were arraigned for perversion of justice were
Lewis Ogenkhene, Ughoshe Adolphus and Osazuwa Efosa Robertson.

The charge against Ogenkhene read: “That you Lewis Ogenkhene (m)
on or about the 15th day of September, 2020 in Benin City, Edo
State within the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court did
knowingly make a false statement to Detective Ajisafe Wasiu, an
officer of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission in the
course of the exercise of the duties of his office, which statement
is untrue in any material particular and thereby committed an
offence contrary to Section 39(2)(a) of the Economic and Financial
Crimes Commission (Establishment) Act 2004 and punishable under
Section 39(2)(b)of the same Act.”

All the defendants pleaded guilty to the charges, when they were
read to them.

The prosecution counsel, Francis Jirbo, Austin Ozigbu and
Ibrahim Mohammed, prayed the court to convict and sentence the
defendants accordingly.

Justice Mohammed convicted and sentenced the quartet of Imole,
Olagoke Ibrahim, Odinaka, John Paul, Adekunle Joshua to three years
imprisonment with the option of N500, 000 fine each.

The duo of Damilola Michael and David Oluwatobi were sentenced
to two years imprisonment or N300, 000 fine each. Others bagged two
years imprisonment or a fine of N200, 000 each, while the three
sureties bagged two years imprisonment with option of N100, 000
fine each.

In another ruling yesterday, Justice Mohammed convicted Oladepo
Olawale, Victor Benjamin and Adeboyega Muritala Idowu for
impersonating foreign nationals in their attempt to defraud
unsuspecting victims.

Adeboyega Muritala Idowu was discovered to have falsely
presented himself as Bendik Phillip, John Micepl to defraud an
American citizen of $19,650.

The charge against Idowu read: “that you Adeboyega Muritala
Idowu, aka Bendik Phillips, (John Micepl ) between 2019 and 2021 at
Alagbaka area of Ondo State within the jurisdiction of this
Honourable Court did with intent to defraud, send messages which
materially represented your identity to Mellisa, an American lady
upon which she relied and suffered financial loss in the sum of
$19, 650 (Nineteen Thousand, Six Hundred and Fifty Dollars) and
thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 22(2)(b)(i) and
(ii) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc) Act 2015 and
punishable under Section 22(2)(iv) of the same Act.”

The defendants pleaded guilty to the charge.

In view of their plea, prosecution counsel, Francis Jibro prayed
the court to convict and sentence them accordingly.

Justice Mohammed convicted and sentenced Idowu to five years
imprisonment or a fine of N300, 000. The duo of Benjamin and
Olawale bagged two years term with the option fine of N200, 000
each.

The court also ordered the forfeiture of the sum of N6.4 million
recovered from the bank account of Adeboyega Muritala Idowu to the
Federal Government of Nigeria.