Date: 2021-10-01

A Federal High Court sitting in Ilorin has sentenced Gabriel Akinluyi, a Tranex Courier service worker, Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State, to six months in Correctional Service over offences bordering on internet fraud.

The Ilorin Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) secured the conviction.

In his judgment, Justice Mohammed Sanni, sentenced Akinluyi to six months in correctional service, with the option of fine of N300,000.

"The convict shall enter into an undertaking of good behaviour, before this honourable court," Sanni said.

The court also ordered the forfeiture of the convict's iPhone 7 and Motorola phone, which were used to perpetrate the crime to the Federal Government.

The charge against him read: "That you, Akinluyi Damilola Gabriel, sometime between January and February, at Ado Ekiti, Ekiti state, fraudulently impersonated one Connor Matty via Gmail account connormatty4@gmail.com

"With intent to obtain $150 worth of iTunes gift card and which you obtained from one Hollie Beilman.

"Thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 22(2)(ii) of the Cybercrime (Prohibition Prevention) Act, 2015 and punishable under Section 22(2) (iv) of the same law."

The defendant pleaded guilty when the charge was read to him.

Upon his plea, counsel to the EFCC, Aliyu Adebayo, drew the attention of the court to the plea bargain agreement and the guilty plea entered by the defendant, urging the court to convict him as charged

Adebayo said that the convict was among the 34-suspected internet fraudsters arrested in different locations of Ado Ekiti, Ekiti state, on March 8.

NAN