From Lateef Dada, Osogbo
Justice Emmanuel Ayoola of a Federal High Court sitting in Osogbo, Osun State, has sentenced five persons to five years imprisonment for defrauding former Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Hon Timothy Owoeye, to the tune of N38 million and exposing his nude video.
The convicts are Kazeem Agbabiaka, Femi Oyebode, Babatunde Oluajo, Adebiyi Kehinde, and, Oyebanji Oyeniyi, while the 6th defendant, Ismaila Azeez, was discharged and acquitted.
The convicts were arraigned on five count charges bordering on conspiracy, fraud, and publication of nude video of Owoeye sometime in 2018, thereby causing public ridicule, harassment, and insult to him.
During the trial, the state prosecution led by Moses Faremi, tendered 57 exhibits and called six witnesses against the convicts.
In his judgment, Justice Ayoola held that the prosecution had succeeded in establishing the charge against the convict and struck out a conspiracy allegation saying there was no evidence to prove that they all conspired to record and publish the nude video of Owoeye Timothy electronically contrary to Section 27(1)(2) of the cybercrime.
The court subsequently sentenced Agbabiaka, Oyebode, Oluajo, and Kehinde to five years imprisonment each on counts one and two for conspiracy to defraud and sentenced Oyeniyi to five years each on counts four and five for cyberstalking.
Justice Ayoolan held that the sentencing should run concurrently from the date of judgment.