Richard Anyebe
Justices Olusola Adetujoye and Bayo Taiwo of the Oyo State High Court sitting in Ibadan, have convicted and sentenced eleven (11) cybercriminals, otherwise known as “Yahoo Boys” to community service and jail terms.
Community service refers to unpaid work performed by a person or group of people for the benefit and betterment of their community without any form of compensation. It can be distinct from volunteering since it is not always performed on a voluntary basis and may be compulsory.
Their conviction was secured by the Ibadan zonal command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on August 3 and 4, 2022, on separate charges of fraudulent imperonation.
EFCC Spokesman, Wilson Uwujaren, said on Monday evening that the offences are contrary to Section 419 and 484 of the Criminal Code Law Cap 38, Law of Oyo State, 2000.
The convicted “Yahoo Boys” include Fatai Musbau Opeyemi, Ayodele Olumide Sunday, Oribolawa Idris Abiodun, Abdulahi Malek Olaniyi, Onigbinde Rasaq Oyindamola and Emmanuel Victor Mayowa.
Others are Moses Oyowevotu Oghenaire, Awwal Babatunde Arekemase, Adewale Ayomipo Owolabi, Yusuf David Olamide and Atitade Hassan Ajao.
Uwujaren said the defendants pleaded “guilty” to the charges filed against them, leading to their conviction and sentencing.
According to him, Justice Adetujoye sentenced Oyindamola and Abiodun to six months community service each; Mayowa who was convicted on a two count charge bagged three months jail term while Opeyemi, Sunday and Olaniyi were sentenced to three months community service each.
He added that Justice Taiwo sentenced Oghenaire, Arekemase, Owolabi, Olamide and Ajao to six months community service each.
“Also, the court ordered that the convicts restitute their victims and forfeit all items recovered from them to the Federal Government of Nigeria,” he noted.
Kanyi Daily recalls that in September 2020, a Kwara State High Court had sentenced an undergraduate of the University of Ilorin (UNILORIN), Akinsanya Olamide Ridwan to three months community service for romance scam.
