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….Jails convict for cybercrime
From Sola Ojo, Abuja
Justice Dehinde Dipeolu of the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos has granted the final forfeiture of white Bentley Coupe and a blue Toyota Venza, linked to one German Daniel Onoriede.
Additionally, the judge granted interim forfeiture of the sums of $20,000 and CFA 110,000 as well as a blue Nissan Almera car
Justice Dipeolu granted the forfeitures following a motion ex-parte filed by the Lagos Zonal Directorate 1 of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Lagos through its counsel, H.U. Kofarnaisa.
Moving the application for the final forfeiture of the cars on Friday, August 1, 2025, Kofarnaisa told the court that the application was supported by an eight-paragraph affidavit deposed to by Bufa Okangbe, an investigating officer of the EFCC.
In the affidavit, Okangbe told the court that “On the 14th day of August 2023, operatives of the Commission carried out a sting operation, where a number of suspected internet fraudsters were apprehended in different apartments within the Ocean Bay Estate, Lekki, Lagos State.
“The operatives visited the apartment of one of the suspects identified as German Daniel Onoriode, who absconded and evaded arrest by operatives of the Commission.”
She further stated that “Two of the suspect’s vehicles, a white Bentley Coupe with chassis number SCBFE63WXCC077771 and a blue Toyota Venza with registration number LS368GY, were recovered by operatives of the Commission in his apartment.
“During investigation, documents relating to the importation of the Bentely Coupe, which were acquired with proceeds of unlawful activities, were recovered by the Commission.
“Further investigation revealed that the suspect operates several bank accounts, including a Naira account and a Dollar account.
“The sum of over N500,000,000 was credited into his accounts between 2018 and 2023 from fraudulent sources.”
Justice Dipeolu, having been fully persuaded with the evidence presented before the court, granted the application, as prayed.
Regarding the interim forfeiture order, Kofarnaisa told the court that the application was supported by an eight-paragraph affidavit deposed to by Solomon Usman, an investigating officer of the EFCC.
In a related case in the same court, one Ademola Ayobani Idris was sentenced for internet fraud before Justice D.I. Dipeolu.
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He was arraigned by EFCC on Friday, August 1, 2025 on a one-count charge bordering on cybercrime.
The count reads: “That you, Ademola Ayobami Idris, sometime 2021 in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, fraudulently held out yourself on Google mail as Mike Samorano, an American recruiter ,with intent to gain advantage for yourself, and you thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 22 (2) ( b) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition.) Act, 2015.”
He pleaded “guilty” to the charge preferred against him.
In view of his guilty plea, prosecution counsel, A.A.Umsan, called on Kamal Musa Jubril, an operative of the EFCC,to give a review of the facts.
Jubril stated that Idris was arrested by operatives of the EFCC during a sting operation at the Alagbado area of Lagos State, following intelligence received by the Commission about the activities of some internet fraudsters in the area.
According to him, the defendant was arrested with an iphone 15 promax, which he broke upon sighting the EFCC operatives.
“He claimed to be a cryptocurrency trader and that he was not involved in any fraud.
“He, however, later confessed to be into online employment fraud.
“He disclosed that he usually sent random emails of non-existing jobs to his unsuspecting victims after getting their contact details on Craigslist App,” he said.
Continuing, he told the court that “the defendant claimed to have benefited the sum of $400 (Four Hundred United States Dollars) from his fraudulent activities.
“He also restituted the sum of N300,000.”
Usman, thereafter, sought to tender, in evidence, the defendant’s extrajudicial statements, iPhone 15 pro max and forensic investigation documents print out, which were all admitted as exhibits.
Justice Dipeolu, consequently, convicted and sentenced the defendant to three months imprisonment, without an option of fine.
The Judge also ordered that the sum of N300,000 in restitution and the iPhone 15 promax be forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria.
