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The Federal High Court, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State has sentenced international fraudster, Scales Olatunji to 235 years imprisonment for internet fraud and money laundering.
TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Justice Agatha Okeke of the Federal High Court sentenced Olatunji convicting the notorious international fraudster for internet fraud and money laundering.
Olatunji was first arraigned on July 2, 2019 on 45-count charges bordering on identity theft, money laundering and conspiracy.
According to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), he pleaded “not guilty” to the charges, thus setting the stage for his trial.
However, following Olatunji’s trial, he was found guilty of the charges and was sentenced to 235 years imprisonment.
Meanwhile, in a related development, the Ilorin Zonal Command of the EFCC has secured the conviction of one Olukayode Emmanuel Olamilekan from Akure, Ondo State for offences bordering on cybercrime.
ALSO READ || How EFCC secured 235 years imprisonment of Internet fraudster
Olukayode, 26, was convicted and sentenced to two years imprisonment by Justice Muhammed Sani of the Federal High Court, Ilorin after he was found guilty of the two-count charges levelled against him by the EFCC.
The convict was among the thirty suspected internet fraudsters arrested in Ado-Ekiti on April 26, 2022 during a sting operation.
Investigation into the matter revealed that Olukayode, who is currently jobless is into internet fraud and had benefited several millions of naira from his fraudulent activities, part of which he used to purchase a Mercedes Benz ML 350 for N13 million.
The defendant pleaded guilty to the charge.
Following his guilty plea, counsel to the EFCC, Sesan Ola, reviewed the facts of the case.
He tendered the extra-judicial statements of the defendant, phones, HP laptop and the car recovered from him at the point of arrest as well as fraudulent messages printed from his devices, which were admitted in evidence.
Ola urged the court to convict the defendant in line with his plea and the exhibits tendered before it.
Justice Sani in his judgement said he found merit in the case of the prosecution and consequently convicted the defendant.
The judge sentenced Olukayode to one-year imprisonment on counts one and two with option of N300,000 (Three Hundred Thousand Naira Only) fine on each count.
The court also ordered the forfeiture of one iPhone 12, infinix X 65, HP laptop and Mercedes Benz ML 350 recovered from the convict to the Federal Government.