Mechanic bags 12 months jail for cybercrime in Ilorin

A mechanic has been sentenced to 12 months jail term by a Kwara State High Court, sitting in Ilorin for cybercrime offences.

Adebayo Muhammed Bolaji, 27, who hails from Ilorin West Local Government Area of Kwara State was arraigned on a two-count charge before the court on Wednesday, October 12, by the Ilorin Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, according to a statement by Head of Media and Publicity, Wilson Uwujaren.

The trial Judge, Justice Mahmud Abdulgafar on Thursday, October 13, sentenced Adebayo Muhamed Bolaji to twelve months imprisonment, having found him guilty of offences bordering on cybercrime and possession of fraudulent funds.

Adebayo’s journey to the Nigerian Correctional Centre started on September 15, 2022, when the commission acting on intelligence about the activities of some internet fraudsters operating along Airport Road, Ilorin effected his arrest.

Count 2 of the charge reads, “That you, Adebayo Muhamed Bolaji, sometime in the month of September 2021 and September 2022 in Ilorin, within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court knowingly had under your control the sum of N3, 200,000 through your bank account number 2011025023 domiciled with Kuda Microfinance Bank Ltd, reasonably suspected to have been unlawfully obtained and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 319A of the Penal Code.”

He pleaded guilty to the charges.

Based on the guilty plea by the defendant, his confessional statement and the uncontroverted evidence of the prosecution, Justice Abdulgafar convicted and slammed Adebayo with six months suspended sentence on counts 1 and 2, to run concurrently.

The judge also ordered that the convict’s Toyota Camry, one iPhone 13 and the sum of $520, which he brought as restitution be forfeited to the Federal Government.