Over 70% of Nigerian Youths May Become Ex-Convicts Very Soon

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has sent out a rather worrying warning to all Nigerian youths over the prevalence of cybercrime amongst them. The anti-graft agency warned Nigerian youths that if the present high rate of their involvement in cybercrime is not stopped, more than 70 percent of Nigerian youths might soon become ex-convicts.

This warning was sent out on Thursday after the Benin Zonal Command of the agency secured the conviction of three cyber criminals before Justice A.T Mohammed of the Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State in the south southern part of Nigeria, bringing to a total number of 33 internet fraud convictions recorded by the zone within 24 hours.

According to ThisDay Newspaper, the Ilorin zonal commander of the EFCC, Mr. Usman Muktar, while speaking with journalists on the state of the nation, decried the high rate of cybercrime among Nigerian youths and enjoined every stakeholders in the country to discourage the youths from internet fraud.

Mr. Usman Muktar, who said the EFCC had witnessed an increasing number of arrests of Nigerian youths in cybercrime in recent time, charged parents to ask their children questions about the sources of their wealth.

According to his words; “When your children, who are in school stopped asking you for money for upkeep or suddenly start driving expensive cars, parents should ask questions. Unfortunately, some parents support these youth in internet fraud. They say it is Oyinbo money. How does that turn to be your money?” he asked.

Mr. Usman Muktar lamented that free money from cybercrimes led to the use and sales of hard drugs and drug abuse, saying all hands must be on deck to save the situation.

Mr. Usman Muktar added saying; “Corruption among elected political office holders is also a cause for concern. People should ask questions about projects and quality of work/projects. It would make them sit up. Such programmes like TV/radio documentaries, write ups, whistle blowing, etc should be encouraged as we call on the media to join us in the anti-corruption fight.”

The EFCC commander warned fraudsters to desist from engaging in acts of corruption and steer clear of the three states under his command, saying, the “eagle eyes” of the Commission was widely open and ready to catch any corrupt individual, anytime and anywhere.

He described the media as a crucial partner in preventing corruption, economic and financial crimes in Nigeria.

According to his words; “The task of fighting economic and financial crimes is painstaking and broad-based and should be embraced by all strata of the society with the media serving as channel of communication and enlightenment.

“Commission depends greatly on the media to achieve success in the anti-graft campaign, especially, as it affects the prevention mandate, which is hinged on Section 6 of the EFCC Establishment Act.

“Without a doubt, the media is a critical stakeholder in the anti-graft war. With your pen, you could make or mar the fight against corruption. The media’s potential to inform and educate the people is crucial for us.

“We believe that on our own, we cannot win the war against corruption without a buy-in by the people. This is where the support of the media comes in. We need the media to help sensitize the people on the ills of corruption and economic crimes”.

The Zonal Commander while still speaking on cybercrime stated that, “The Command, which covers Kwara, Ekiti and Kogi States is engaging relevant stakeholders including religious and traditional leaders, Civil Society Organizations, CSOs and the youths with a view of sensitizing them on the inherent dangers of corruption and internet fraud. My Command is certainly not going to be a safe haven for cyber criminals,” he added.

As started earlier in the ThisDay report, the Benin zone had on Wednesday secured 30 convictions before Justice A.T Mohammed of the Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State in the south southern part of Nigeria.

The convicted internet fraudsters were arraigned separately on one count charge bordering on impersonation and obtaining by false pretences. The suspects are Okei Morrison Onome, Ejiro Nwaju, Oki Alex Efe, Omoghene Gift, Collins Odinaka, Onyue Martins Ifeanyi, Azubuike Christian, Achiever Effiong, Adeniyi Michael Femi, Eze John Paul, Akinayomide James, Adejube Isaac Oluwadunsin, Isaac Phillip, Ibrahim Olalekan Olagoke and Paul Obinna Thomas.

Others are Damilola Michael, Umoru Mosuru, Dotun Ogunboye Olaleye, Adekunle Joshua, Elliot Igunbor, Ezomo Junior, David Oluwatobi, Ereoman Emmanuel, Oyetunde Victor Temitope, Nurudeen Abiodun Imole and Adeboye Victor.

The charge against one of them reads; “That you Adebuje Isaac Oluwadunsin on the 5th day of August, 2021 at Ondo State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did fraudulently impersonate the identity of one Michelle Orton a white woman and citizen of the United States of America in your Samsung S8 and email address cryptohackweb@gmail.com to gain advantage for yourself and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 22(2) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention) Act 2015 and punishable under Section 22(2) of the same Act.”

Three sureties who were arraigned for perversion of justice were Lewis Ogenkhene, Ughoshe Adolphus and Osazuwa Efosa Robertson. The charge against Ogenkhene read: “That you Lewis Ogenkhene on or about the 15th day of September, 2020 in Benin City, Edo State within the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court did knowingly make a false statement to Detective Ajisafe Wasiu, an officer of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission in the course of the exercise of the duties of his office, which statement is untrue in any material particular and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 39(2) of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (Establishment) Act 2004 and punishable under Section 39(2) of the same Act.”

All the defendants pleaded guilty to the charges, when they were read to them. The prosecution counsel, Francis Jirbo, Austin Ozigbu and Ibrahim Mohammed, prayed the court to convict and sentence the defendants accordingly.

Justice Mohammed of the Federal High Court in Port Harcourt, River State, convicted and sentenced Imole, Olagoke Ibrahim, Odinaka, John Paul, Adekunle Joshua to three years imprisonment with the option of a fine of N500,000 each from the convicted cyber criminals.

Also, Damilola Michael and David Oluwatobi were both sentenced to two years imprisonment with the option of a fine of N300,000 each from the convicted cyber criminals. Others bagged two years imprisonment or a fine of N200,000 each, while the three sureties bagged two years imprisonment with option of a fine of N100,000 each.

In another ruling yesterday, Justice Mohammed convicted Oladepo Olawale, Victor Benjamin and Adeboyega Muritala Idowu for impersonating foreign nationals in their attempt to defraud unsuspecting victims.

Adeboyega Muritala Idowu was discovered to have falsely presented himself as Bendik Phillip to defraud an American citizen of $19,650.

The charge against Idowu read; “that you Adeboyega Muritala Idowu, aka Bendik Phillips, between 2019 and 2021 at Alagbaka area of Ondo State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did with intent to defraud, send messages, which materially represented your identity to Mellisa, an American lady upon which she relied and suffered financial loss in the sum of $19,650 and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 22(2) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention) Act 2015 and punishable under Section 22(2) of the same Act.” Unfortunately, the defendants pleaded guilty to all the charges.

In view of their plea, prosecution counsel, Francis Jibro prayed the court to convict and sentence them accordingly. Justice Mohammed convicted and sentenced Idowu to five years imprisonment or a fine of N300,000. While Benjamin and Olawale bagged two years prison term with the option fine of N200,000 each.

The court also ordered the forfeiture of the sum of N6.4 million recovered from the bank account of Adeboyega Muritala Idowu to the Federal Government of Nigeria. Mr. Usman Muktar, the zonal commander of EFCC in Kwara, Ekiti and Kogi States respectively warned Nigerian youths to desist from cyber crime otherwise they will end up behind bars.