A Federal High Court sitting in Ilorin on Thursday sentenced one Aderibigbe Shehu, a student of Kwara State University, (KWASU), Malete, to three years in prison over internet fraud.
The Ilorin Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) secured the conviction.
The defendant pretended to be a widow, who resides in the United States of America (USA), to defraud unsuspecting victims.
Aderibigbe, a native of Oshogbo, Osun State Capital, was one of the 30 suspected internet fraudsters arrested at Malete, Moro Local Government Area of Kwara, on Sept. 19, 2021.
The presiding Judge, Justice Muhammed Sani, pronounced Aderibigbe guilty of the charge and sentenced him to three years in prison with N982,403 as an option of fine.
The court also ordered that the iPhone7 plus and Laptop that were used to perpetrate the crime be forfeited to the Federal Government.
The defendant pleaded guilty to the charge.
Earlier, the prosecution counsel, Rasheedat Alao, reviewed the facts of the case and tendered the extra-judicial statements of the defendant, which were admitted in evidence.
She urged the court to consider the guilty plea of the defendant, his extra-judicial statements and all the exhibits tendered to convict the defendant as charged.
The court further convicted one Bolaji Awoleye from the Oke-Ogun Area of Oyo State for an internet fraud-related offence.
The prosecution counsel, Sesan Ola, told the court that Awoleye allegedly posed as one Karan Vanslack, an American lady, with the intent to defraud unsuspecting victims.
The defendant pleaded guilty as charged and was sentenced to a year in prison with an option of fine of N100, 000.
The court also ordered that the iPhone6 that he used to perpetrate the crime be forfeited to the federal government.