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The Bus Rapid Transit driver, Andrew Ominikoron, accused of raping and murdering 22-year-old fashion designer, Oluwabamise Ayanwole, on Thursday, opened his defence at his trial.
Naija News reports that the defendant is standing trial bordering on rape, conspiracy, felony, sexual assault, and murder brought against him by the Lagos State Government
Ominikoron, who testified in his defence before the Lagos State High Court in Tafawa Balewa Square, told the court that he did not rape nor kill Oluwabamise.
He narrated to Justice Sherifat Sonaike that on February 26, 2022, he was on an afternoon shift, which he resumed by 1 pm, and his route was from Oshodi to Ajah.
According to him, he made a round trip and went on the second trip back to Ajah, saying that it was already around 7 to 8 pm. He said he couldn’t continue working but decided to illegally pick passengers while going back to Oshodi, a term he and his colleague call Korokpe.
The charges revealed that the incident occurred on February 26, 2022, around 7 pm, near the Conservation Centre, Lekki-Ajah Expressway, Lagos.
The prosecution alleged that Ominikoron forcibly had sexual intercourse with Oluwabamise Ayanwole before murdering her.
On the last adjourned date on June 24, the trial was stalled due to the defendant’s leg injury sustained in prison.
The court was told that Ominikoron fell in the bathroom on Sunday, June 23, 2024, injuring his left leg, which caused his absence in court.
During hearing on Thursday, the Director of Public Prosecutions, Dr. Babajide Martins, told the court that the case had been stalled since November last year and then told the court that the business of the day was for the defence to open its case.
The judge therefore ordered the defence to open its case. Ominikoron, who was led in his defence witness by his counsel, Abayomi Omotubora, told the court that he picked the late Bamishe at Chevron, and three male passengers at Agungi.
According to him, one of the male passengers was coming forward, and he thought it was to pay him, then the passenger threw something at his head and showed him a gun, asking him to cooperate.
The defendant explained that when they pick up passengers illegally, they usually tell them to sit at the back so that officials of the BRT services on monitoring would not see them in the bus and sanction the drivers.
He said he followed the instructions of the man who asked him to divert his route and told him to put his vehicle on neutral.
The defendant further explained that the light inside the bus was on but it was the dim light since he was avoiding being caught for picking passengers.
Omotubora then called for the audio recording of Bamishe, which was played in the open court.
He then asked Ominikoron if he was aware that the late Bamishe was recording or sending voice notes, and he said he wasn’t, that the first time he heard it was when it was played to him at the Panti Police Station after he had made his statement, but he didn’t understand it because of the language barrier.
The defendant told the court that he didn’t know the three men he picked up at Agungi as he had never seen them before and would not be able to identify them.
He said that in Panti, he was severely tortured and the police asked him to just agree with anything they said.
Ominikoron said, “I was brought out and questioned every 15 to 20 minutes and they continually took my statements.
“I could not write my statements due to the torture, so two to three people questioned me while the writer sat in front and wrote down my response.”
Omotuba then asked for Exhibits 10a, b, 11, and 12. Exhibit 10 was one of his previous statements that was read.
In the statement, he said she sat behind him, and he was telling her that he liked her, but later asked her to go to the back to avoid the LSBS officers from arresting him, and she went to the second to the last seat.
Ominikoron said that at the Osborne area, one of the guys pointed a gun at him and diverted him.
He added that when they stopped, Bamishe was screaming for help while she was being dragged but he couldn’t help because a gun was pointed at him.
Ominikoron said later, the men came down from the bus, then he went to the back to look for her, but when he couldn’t find her, saying that he went back to his seat and drove off until he packed his bus at the toll-gate/7-Up terminal.
He said he went home and was home throughout the next day, being Sunday. Adding that on his way to work on Monday, still in shock, he was called to get to Oshodi.
He said on getting there, he heard that one of his passengers was missing. Ominikoron told the court that he later called one of his friends, Mr Hope, and told him he had a problem with his landlord and in his office so he needed to discuss it with him.
He said he went to Ogun State to meet his friend and told him he wanted to stay there for a while.
When asked if he slept with anyone on his bus, he said he didn’t do that and that the male passengers raped Bamishe and dragged her out.
He said he was shocked, so he couldn’t tell anyone what happened while explaining what happened on Monday.
“While still on my way to work, I was called to the head office in Oshodi to meet Mr Ola. On getting there, I was told not to drive out, but wait.
“Then some of my colleagues were now saying that I did ‘Korokpe’, after saying I didn’t do that, they now said one of my passengers is missing.
“After hearing this, I now found a way to leave the depot because I was afraid that the rumour had got to the office and I remembered that my MD had continually told us that he could not use N1m to chase someone even if it was N100. So, I ran away because picking people illegally is equal to stealing,” he said.
When asked if he knew a certain MaryJane or raped her on November 25, 2021, he said he knew her but didn’t rape her.
He said though they were in a relationship, he had never been intimate with her.
He claimed that the last time they met, he sent her N3,000 for her sick child and started avoiding her because she was always demanding money from him anytime they met.
He was also asked if he attempted to rape Doctor (name withheld) and exchanged phone numbers on December 29, 2021, in Ikorodu; he denied knowing her nor going to Ikorodu on that day.
However, the case was adjourned till October 21, 2024, for the continuation of the defendant’s examination in chief.
Former Minister of Information, Jerry Gana, on Thursday, refuted claims that members of former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s cabinet encountered evil spirits during their time at the State House.
Gana made this assertion at a press conference held to announce the upcoming four-day International Conference of the African Biblical Leadership Initiative (ABLI) in Abuja, set to commence on October 21.
The ABLI initiative, themed “Value-based Leadership Model for Africa,” aims to cultivate a new generation of transformational leaders across the continent, with a particular focus on Nigeria.
Gana’s comments were a direct response to allegations made by Reuben Abati, former spokesperson to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, who in 2016 wrote an article titled “The Spiritual Side of Aso Rock.”
In this piece, Abati suggested that a supernatural force loomed over the State House, calling for it to be converted into a museum and abandoned. He further indicated that a cleric had informed him that Aso Rock was “full of evil spirits.”
Abati recounted his own distressing experiences while residing in the Presidential Villa, stating he suffered physical ailments and could not sleep in the assigned apartment for an hour over a six-month period.
When asked if he had encountered similar supernatural occurrences during his tenure as minister, a visibly puzzled Gana shook his head. He emphasized that the absence of such experiences during Obasanjo’s administration does not imply their non-existence.
He said, “We don’t live in a free environment where you are not free to do whatever you like. You are either for light or darkness. You are either for God or the devil. There are forces within the environment in which we live that if you do not spiritually agree on who to follow, you can’t know where you belong. So the issue of spiritual forces is real. That is why the Bible says we are the light of the world.
“So whatever tension you are referring to, I don’t know. During our own time, we didn’t see the thing (demon). Maybe they are too afraid of us. But I am not saying they are not there.
“From my personal experience during the eight years of General Olusegun Obasanjo, we met for prayers every day when we were here in Abuja. We believe that God is sovereign and He will give us the understanding to be able to do the best for the country. We met every morning by 6 am to pray for just God’s wisdom and guidance.”
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention has recorded 14,237 cases of cholera across 35 states and the Federal Capital Territory, spanning 339 local government areas as of October 13, 2024.
The Director General of the NCDC, Dr Jide Idris, who made this known at a press briefing in Abuja, on Thursday, said 378 deaths had been recorded from cholera.
The DG also disclosed that the number of confirmed Mpox cases in the country increased to 102 across 26 states and the Federal Capital Territory, up from the previous total of 94 cases.
Idris said cholera remained a serious public health issue, particularly in areas with inadequate water, sanitation, and hygiene systems.
He, however, said the centre was working with stakeholders to mitigate the spread.
“As of October 13, 2024, a total of 14,237 cases of cholera have been reported across 35 states and the FCT, spanning 339 local government areas.
“Sadly, 378 lives have been lost, resulting in a case-fatality ratio of about 2.7 per cent. The burden of this outbreak disproportionately affects the most vulnerable–children under the age of five.
“This year has seen two significant waves of cholera, with the most recent surge, reported during the week of September 29, attributed to the heavy rains and subsequent flooding.
“This is a pattern we anticipated, having foreseen the risks through data and advisories provided by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency.
“The floods in the northern states such as Borno, Adamawa, Jigawa, Yobe, and Kano have exacerbated the spread of cholera, making these states the current epicentres of the outbreak.
“Earlier in the year, the cholera cases were concentrated in southern states as the rains began there, but we have seen a shift, with northern states now accounting for a significant portion of cases.
“The number of suspected cholera cases and deaths in 2024 has more than doubled when compared to this time last year.
“These numbers reflect the severity of the outbreak and reinforce the need for continuous vigilance and action.
“It also underscores the developmental issues that should be addressed both at the national and sub-national levels with improved commitment towards addressing challenges relating to inadequate access to clean water, open defecation, poor environmental sanitation, food and personal hygiene.”
He said the agency has deployed rapid response teams, including experts from health line ministries to the affected northern states.
He added that high-level advocacy visits, including to Borno State, were conducted to engage with states’ health leadership, encourage response teams, and offer support to communities displaced by floods.
“Our efforts have been bolstered by collaboration with the National Primary Health Care Development Agency.
“Together, we have successfully supported our sister agency, the NPCHDA, to carry out reactive cholera vaccinations in internally displaced persons camps, a move that has proven crucial in the reduction in cases being reported.
“We urge all Nigerians to practice good personal, food, and environmental hygiene, with emphasis on regular hand washing with soap and water under running water; and seek medical care immediately if cholera symptoms—such as severe diarrhoea and vomiting—occur.
“Looking ahead, our priorities remain clear -we will continue to enhance surveillance, improve prompt treatment of affected persons, and strengthen Water Sanitation and Hygiene practices in affected communities. Cholera is a preventable disease, and with collective effort, we can control and eventually eliminate this threat,” he stated.
On Mpox, Idris said in response to the threat, especially in light of regional cross-border transmission, the NCDC has reinforced its strategy to prevent the spread of the virus.
“We are primarily dealing with the Clade IIB variant, which has been circulating in Nigeria; however, we are also monitoring the situation in Cameroun where both Clade IB & IIB are reported, and heightening our surveillance for the Clade IB, a more severe strain currently circulating in Kenya, Uganda, Burundi, and the DRC, which has the potential for rapid spread through community transmission.
“Nigeria has continued to manage the outbreak with vigilance. As of October 13, a total of 102 confirmed cases have been recorded across 26 states and the FCT, from 1,339 suspected cases. Encouragingly, there have been no recorded deaths, but we remain cautious.
“The observed steady rise in the number of reported cases in recent weeks can be attributed to enhanced surveillance and improved case detection across the country,” he said.
He stated that the agency’s response strategy rested on stakeholder engagement, surveillance and diagnostic capacity, community engagement, and vaccination campaign.
He added, “In partnership with the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency and National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, we are facilitating the deployment of 10,000 doses of the Mpox Jynneos vaccine, prioritising high-risk groups such as contacts of confirmed cases and immunocompromised individuals.
“Priority states for this vaccination campaign include Bayelsa, Rivers, Cross River, and Akwa Ibom, based on the burden of Mpox cases reported since 2017.
“Anyone with rash illness is advised to visit the nearest health facility for care. The general public is advised to avoid direct contact with sick or dead animals and avoid consumption of under-cooked meat.”
The lawmaker representing Abia North in the Senate, Orji Uzor Kalu, has revealed that he earns a total of N14 million monthly as a Senator.
During an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Thursday, Kalu dismissed the widespread belief that lawmakers live in luxury while the masses suffer in poverty.
“I earn N14 million for everything in a month. That is everything encompassing, the overhead, the worker’s salary, everybody,” Kalu stated.
The former governor of Abia State argued that the N14 million is not sufficient to cover his expenses, including travel to his constituency and maintaining his constituency office.
In response to allegations regarding lawmakers being provided luxury official vehicles, Kalu clarified that no personal vehicles are given to Senators. Instead, only committees within the National Assembly receive vehicles for official use.
“I am in the Senate, and a lot of things are said about the Senators. I sit there quietly and watch, and most of these things are not true. All I know is that committees get vehicles, no lawmaker is given any vehicle,” Kalu explained.
The Labour Party (LP) has accused the All Progressives Congress (APC) government of President Bola Tinubu of inflicting hardship on Nigerians.
The party, through its National Publicity Secretary, Obiora Ifoh, submitted that it is the ideology of the APC to cause hardship.
Speaking during an interview with Punch published on Thursday, Ifoh said President Tinubu had promised to continue from where former President Muhammadu Buhari stopped and the reality of what he said is the pain and penury Nigerians are passing through at the moment.
He lamented that many Nigerians are unable to feed properly, pay their medical bills and afford other basic necessities of life due to the harsh policies of the current government.
The LP spokesperson made the submission in response to a question on the appropriateness of a suggestion for the Tinubu administration to seek help from former President Goodluck Jonathan to stabilise the economy and currency.
In response, Ifoh said: “It is not about seeking help. It is about the ideology of the party. The ideology is to bring hardship. The ideology is like what this current President said, to continue from where the previous President stopped. It is about the pain and penury they intend to inflict on Nigeria and they are succeeding.
“At this rate, I don’t know where Nigeria will be in the next three years. At this rate, people can’t pay their health bills and even eat. Every day, they are increasing taxes. And they are achieving what they want to achieve. You can see the rate of school dropouts. So, it is not about being stubborn. It is about the policy.”
Controversial Nigerian artist, Speed Darlington, has expressed his intention to retract his public apology to fellow musician, Burna Boy, after disclosing the circumstances that led to the apology.
Previously, Speed Darlington issued a public statement, apologizing for remarks he made about Burna Boy, which allegedly led to his arrest.
However, in a recent video update, the singer clarified that his apology was not genuine but was made solely to retrieve his seized phone.
According to him, he was pressured into making the apology by his lawyer, who insisted that posting it online was the best way to secure the release of his phone.
Despite complying, Speed Darlington claims his phone remains in police custody, prompting his decision to delete the apology.
The singer further taunted his critics, stating that all the information on his seized phone is backed up on his laptop, and he plans to purchase a new phone soon.
Controversial singer Habeeb Okikiola, popularly known as Portable, recently entertained fans with a humorous video in which he cross-dressed and grooved to his incoming track.
In the clip, Portable who claimed he was invited to a party hosted by Diddy, created a song about the event where he advised his fans not to attend.
Dressed in an eye-catching pink feminine outfit, Portable donned a matching pink crop top, short skirt, and wig. Adding to the playful theme, he accessorized with a pink wristband and slippers, fully committing to the look.
Throughout the video, the singer showed off some dance moves, even attempting to wiggle his waist for his audience while smiling at the camera.
Portable confidently posed and danced in front of the camera.
Sharing the video, he wrote:
“Don’t go to DIDDY Party ???? Out Soon ??.”
Watch the video below:
The Sokoto State government has announced a massive 55 per cent discount rates for rice and other basic but essential commodities and food items.
The discount was announced by the state governor Ahmed Aliyu during the inauguration of the sales of subsidised items in Kware LGA.
The inauguration signalled the commencement of the programme across the 244 wards.
Aliyu disclosed that the programme aims to ameliorating the economic hardship citizens face, assuring that the programme would be sustained to herald food security in Sokoto.
“We have made the process transparent and non-political with a view to ensuring the success of this initiative in supporting the entire population of the state.
“Our goal is to ensure that all residents of Sokoto, regardless of political affiliation or religious background, benefit from this programme,” he assured.
The governor revealed that the state government had spent N14.4 billion to procure 280 trucks of rice for onward sale to the public.
“Each ward will receive 600 bags of 50 kg rice, sold at a 55 per cent discount rate. We have reduced the price of a 50 kg bag to N38,700, a 25 kg bag to N19,350, and a 10 kg bag to N7,740,” he said.
Mr Aliyu added that his government did not intend to collect the proceeds from the sales. He said it would open a special account where the funds would be used to buy more foodstuff for the programme’s sustainability.
“I have also directed the sales committee to provide smaller measurements for those who cannot afford the 10 kg bags,” he added.
The governor urged religious scholars in the state to use their pulpits to continuously encourage wealthy individuals to support the less privileged in their communities.
He further assured that adequate measures had been put in place to ensure that the commodities reached the intended beneficiaries.
The chairman of the sales committee, Chiso Dattijo, assured the governor that due process would be strictly followed during the sales process
No fewer than 36 suspected internet fraudsters have been arrested at different locations in Onitsha, Anambra State.
The Enugu Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, disclosed the arrest of the suspects on Thursday.
The suspects were arrested on October 11, 2024, following actionable intelligence linking them with suspected online criminal activities.
It was gathered that the suspects impersonated foreign nationals using social media platforms to defraud unsuspecting victims.
Items recovered from them include eight luxury vehicles and sophisticated brands of mobile phones and laptops.
The EFCC said the suspects will be charged to court as soon as investigations are concluded.
A member of the Yoruba Nation agitators, Adejumo Lateef, has died while in custody, officials of the Nigeria Correctional Services revealed on Wednesday, October 16.
Lateef, the 18th defendant in an ongoing trial, was part of a group facing charges in connection with the April 13, 2024 invasion of the Oyo State government Secretariat.
The suspects, under the aegis of Yoruba Nation Agitators, are accused of attempting to declare the sovereign Republic of Yoruba Nation (Oodua Republic) during the incident. The case, filed under suit number I/51c/2024, is being heard at the Fiat Court 3 of the Oyo State High Court, Ring Road, Ibadan, presided over by Justice K. B. Olawoyin.
The 27 defendants, including the late Adejumo Lateef, face charges of conspiracy, unlawful possession of firearms, unlawful assembly, treasonable felony, and treason. Among those standing trial are Adeyemo Peter, Adeyemo Joseph, Amos Oluwaseyi Ogundeji, and Ayanwale Rofiat, along with others such as Fatoki Anthony, Murittala Abefe, and Ismaila Adepoju.
The charges stem from the events of April 13, 2024, and are punishable under Section 37(2) of the Criminal Code, Cap 38, Vol. II, Laws of Oyo State, 2000.
At Wednesday’s court session, the case could not proceed as planned due to the majority of the defendants lacking legal representation. Adebola Ogungbe represented the 3rd, 4th, 9th, and 12th defendants, while Toluwase Ogundeji stood in for the 15th defendant. Two additional lawyers, Yomi Ogunlola and S.A. Sanmi, volunteered to represent other unrepresented defendants.
However, the 6th, 23rd, and 24th defendants informed the court that they would contact their families to arrange legal representation. As a result, Justice Olawoyin adjourned the case to November 6, 8, and 13 for arraignment and further hearings.
The case is being prosecuted by a team from the Oyo State Government led by the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP), Mr. S. O. Adeoye, along with Deputy DPP O. R. Yussuf, and other senior state counsels including S. A. Osuolale, Yisa Busari, and O. A. Bolarinwa.
The death of Adejumo Lateef in custody adds another layer of complexity to the already sensitive case involving the Yoruba Nation movement.
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A notorious Nigerian human trafficker has been arrested by the Buduburam District Police in the Gomoa East District of the Central Region, Ghana after a decade on the police wanted list.
The accused nick-named Pu**y Mama, has allegedly trafficked over 3,000 victims across Africa.
According to a police report, the suspect, who identified as inters3x with both male and female genitalia, is allegedly involved in trafficking women and girls from Nigeria, Liberia, and Togo into Ghana for prostitution.
It was gathered that the women were forced into prostitution at popular venues, including hostels and nightclubs in Kasoa, Buduburam and nearby areas.
He was said to have lured the women with promises of lucrative jobs but later coerced them into prost!tution.
He had evaded arrest by Nigerian and Ghanaian police for 10 years due to alleged mystical powers.
According to police sources, the alleged human trafficker always disappeared before authorities could get to him.
However, luck eluded him during one of his operations.
While trafficking another set of young girls from Nigeria to Ghana for prostitution, he was arrested by a young female police officer.
He was subsequently arraigned before the Kasoa Ofaakor Circuit on Wednesday, October 9, 2024
The court, presided over by His Lordship Isaac Oheneba Kuffour, remanded the accused in police custody.
He is expected to reappear before the court on October 18, 2024.
Meanwhile, the Central Regional Chairman for the Nigerian Community, Sir Emmanuel Azubuike, who doubles as the Africa Coordinator for the International Human Rights Observatory, commended the police for their bravery.
Citing the numerous times the accused escaped from police custody over the years, he charged the Ghana Police Service and the Chief Justice to be vigilant so he doesn’t escape again.
![Man slumps and d!es after marathon s£x at guest house in Niger State [PHOTOS]](/media/k2/items/cache/b033818e9d65f65521e77f1429a09bb9_XS.jpg?t=20241017_130734)
A yet-to-be identified man has slumped and d!ed after a marathon s@x with a woman at a guest house in Paiko, the headquarters of Paikoro Local Government Area of Niger State.
The guest house reportedly belongs to Paikoro LGA and is located within the Paiko popular market, where traders, who usually come from far places to lodge.
One of the traders, who preferred anonymity, said the incident happened in the night on Tuesday, October 15, after the deceased was done having s3x with the woman.
“The man was done having affairs with the lady and was putting on his trousers, as the lady narrated to us, when he suddenly slumped and d!ed,” the trader told Daily Trust.
"The lady has been arrested by the police while the corpse of the man was taken to IBB Specialist Hospital in Minna. We cannot trace his family because he had no phone or any means of identification on his body. This is the first time we are experiencing this in this market.”
The spokesperson of the Niger State Police Command, SP Wasiu Abiodun, confirmed the incident
Below is a photo of the man so that his family members can identify him.
“An incident of a suspected sudden d@ath was reported at Paiko Div, that on 15/10/24 at about 2050hrs, a yet to be identified male adult visited the LGA lodge with a lady, and thereafter, he slumped and he was rushed to a nearby medical facility in Paiko where he was confirmed d3ad,” the PPRO stated.
“The incident is being investigated as a medical autopsy is being awaited. Effort is also ongoing to locate his relatives for necessary arrangements.”
Below is a photo of the yet-to-be identified man. Family members and friends should contact the police.
The Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Olayemi Cardoso, has revealed the country’s fundamental determinant of foreign exchange rates.
Contrary to a general belief that the apex bank determines FX rates, Cardoso said that economic fundamentals drive the foreign exchange rate.
The CBN governor revealed this during his address at the launch of the Nigeria Development Update in Abuja on Thursday, October 17.
Cardoso stressed that he would adhere to traditional central banking principles.
“The CBN does not determine the exchange rate; it is determined by the fundamentals. The CBN will ensure that we adhere to that,” Cardoso noted.
The CBN Governor expressed confidence that strengthening collaboration with fiscal authorities would lead to more stability in the exchange rate.
He also highlighted efforts to increase foreign exchange inflows into the Nigerian economy, noting: “When we started, FX inflows were about $200 million, but through sheer determination, we now record $600 million.”
He further remarked on the positive shift in investor confidence, stating, “Before, many potential investors were on the sidelines. Now, it’s amazing to see how many have stepped forward to invest in Nigeria.”
In July, Nigeria’s Foreign Exchange (FX) reserves climbed to a peak of $34.7 billion based on figures from the Central Bank of Nigeria’s website.
Naija News reports that this marks a rise of $110 million from the day before, which stood at $34.5 billion.
The reserves have been on the rise from previous days, accumulating an increase of $316 million since July 1.
This surge can be attributed to various reasons, such as the recent uptick in oil prices, better remittances from the diaspora, and the Central Bank’s initiatives to stabilize the local currency.
Analysts see this rise in international currency holdings as beneficial for Nigeria’s economy, as it offers protection against external disturbances and bolsters the nation’s capacity to fulfil its financial commitments.
A recent assessment by Fitch Ratings has given a favourable outlook to Nigeria’s economic situation, highlighting major reforms that have brought back macroeconomic stability and improved the consistency and reliability of its policies.
The Ilorin Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has secured the conviction of six persons for offences bordering on internet fraud.
The convicts were sentenced by Justices Sulaiman Akanbi and Adebayo Yusuf of the Kwara State High Court sitting in Ilorin.
The convicts include Idris Muhammed, Temitope Mustapha, Oyekola Anthony, Sylvester Stephen, Timilehin Adeniyi and Olayiwola Abdulmalik.
Justice Akanbi sentenced Idris, Ismail, Oyekola and Anthony to different jail terms while the duo of Timilehin and Olayiwola were convicted by Justice Yusuf.
The charge against Idris reads: “That you, I DRIS Muhammed on or about the 13th day of July 2024 to 13th of August 2024 in Ilorin within the Jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did cheat by personation, when you pretended to be one Dorthy Onanewlevel Palmer and fraudulently deceived one Lavergne Adriana Racheal to send $600 to you via cash app and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 321 of the Penal Code and punishable under Section 324 of the Penal Code.
The charge against Ismail reads: “That you, Ismail Temitope Mustapha (Alias: Myre Roddy) sometime between the year 2022 and 2023 within the Judicial division of the High Court, did cheat by personation, when you pretended to be one Myre Roddy vide Tik Tok account @roddy0s3 and induced one Ron Woldron to part with the gross sum of $500 vide apple gift cards; and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 321 of the Penal Code and punishable under Section 324 of the Penal Code.
The defendants pleaded guilty to their respective charges.
Upon their pleas, the prosecution counsel, Andrew Akoja and Victoria Igodo tendered the extra-judicial statements of the defendants, items recovered from them at the point of arrest and monies that they benefited from the illegal activities, which the court admitted in evidence.
Consequently, Justice Akanbi sentenced Idris to two years imprisonment with an option of N100,000 and ordered the forfeiture of his iPhone 13, and the sum of $300 which he raised as restitution to the federal government.
Similarly, the court sentenced Ismail to one year imprisonment with an option of fine of N100,000 while ordering the forfeiture of his iPhone 11 Promax and $300USD to the federal government.
Oyekola also bagged one year imprisonment on count one with an option of N100,000, two years imprisonment on count two with an option of N200,000 and two weeks community service on count three and a fine of N50,000.
The sum of $300 and N34,900 recovered from him have been ordered to be forfeited to the federal government.
In the same vein, the court sentenced Anthony to one year imprisonment with an option of N50,000 and ordered that the iPhone 12 and the sum of $25 which he benefited from the unlawful activities be forfeited to the federal government.
In a similar fashion, Justice Yusuf sentenced the duo of Timilehin and Olayiwola to six months imprisonment with an option of N200,000 each.
The convicts’ phones and the monies they brought as restitution were forfeited to the federal government.