A Federal High Court sitting in Osogbo has convicted five conmen for defrauding Osun Assembly ex-Speaker, Timothy Owoeye, a sum of N38 million, and releasing his nude video to the internet.
In a significant legal verdict that underscores the perils of cybercrime, a Federal High Court in Osogbo has handed down convictions to five individuals who defrauded and humiliated former Osun Assembly Speaker, Timothy Owoeye.
The court ruled on Tuesday, finding them guilty of various offenses, including conspiracy, advance fee fraud, and cyberstalking.
The convicts, namely Kazeem Agbabiaka, Femi Oyebode, Abdul-Rasheed Ojonla, Babatunde Oluajo, Adebiyi Kehinde, Oyebanji Oyeniyi, and Ismaila Azeez, were originally arraigned in court on October 19, 2018.
The judgment exposed a disturbing scheme in which Agbabiaka, Oyebode, Ojonla, and Babatunde were found guilty of conspiring to commit advance fee fraud, for which they received sentences of five years in prison.
Meanwhile, Adebiyi was convicted of cyberstalking and also received a five-year prison sentence.
Justice Emmanuel Ayoola emphasized the gravity of the offenses, which involved swindling the former Speaker of N38 million and the malicious act of posting his nude video online for the purpose of defamation and extortion.
The judge noted that such actions pose a serious threat to society and can have a chilling effect on victims who might be reluctant to come forward.
In this landmark ruling, the court sent a strong message about the consequences of engaging in cybercrimes and acts that can harm individuals both financially and emotionally.
The convictions serve as a reminder of the need to combat and prosecute such crimes to protect innocent victims and the integrity of digital spaces.
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