The Ilorin zonal directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has secured the conviction of three men including a footballer, Musa Olasunkanmi, and two others, Owolabi Abduljeleel and Ayomide Olaoye for offences related to internet fraud and retention of criminal proceeds.
Justice Haleema Saleeman of the Kwara State High Court, delivered the separate judgments after the defendants pleaded guilty to charges brought against them by the anti-graft agency.
According to the EFCC, Olasunkanmi, who claimed to be a footballer, kept over N3.4 million in his Kuda Microfinance Bank account which was traced to fraudulent activities. He also obtained $500 and $1,000 from two foreigners, identified as Karyn and Courtney Rouse, under the guise of a romantic relationship.
The charge against him stated that between January and October 2025, he knowingly controlled N3,453,000 as proceeds of criminal conduct.
Similarly, Ayomide Olaoye, who used the alias Lizzy, was found guilty of retaining N2,069,000 in his Moniepoint Microfinance Bank account, money traced to cybercrime.
In the same vein, Owolabi Abduljeleel was convicted for attempting to cheat by impersonating a white woman named “Rohan Scailet” on Facebook, through which he defrauded a man identified as Matt.
During the trial, EFCC counsel, Andrew Akoja and Omolade Ajibola, presented evidence including the convicts’ statements, recovered items, and proof of restitution.
In her ruling, Justice Saleeman sentenced Olasunkanmi to a total of 18 months imprisonment with an option of fine N1.2million.
Olaoye was sentenced to varying jail terms of three, six, and four months respectively, with the option of fines ranging from N150,000 to N250,000 per count while
Abduljeleel was fined N70,000, and his iPhone XS Max and Samsung Galaxy S9 were forfeited to the federal government.
The EFCC said the convictions were part of its ongoing efforts to rid Kwara State and the nation of cybercrime and other financial offences.
