25-year-old Ayomide Ademiloye Ifeoluwa has been sentenced to 20 years imprisonment over fraud-related offences.
Justice Bamidele Omotosho of Ekiti State High Court in Ado Ekiti, handed down the sentence after the convict pleaded guilty to a four-count charge bordering on obtaining money by false pretence and impersonation.
According to the charges, between 2025 and early this year, Ifeoluwa obtained $700 through his Bybit cash app wallet and $200 in gift cards from one Teresa Hodder.
He posed as an American citizen named Charles Brandon on WhatsApp. He also used the same false identity to attempt to defraud another victim, Shanon, on WhatsApp.
The offences contravened the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act, 2006, and the Criminal Law of Ekiti State, 2021.
On arraignment, the charge was read and interpreted to the defendant. He admitted the allegations in the amended charge and confirmed that he entered the plea bargain agreement voluntarily and without duress.
Prosecuting counsel for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Y.K. Saidu, called one witness and tendered the defendant’s extrajudicial statement, bank statements, transaction receipts, a land sales agreement, and an iPhone 16 recovered during investigation. The defence counsel, M.A. Adebisi, did not cross-examine the witness.
In his judgment, Justice Omotosho sentenced the defendant to nine years imprisonment each on Counts 1 and 2, without the option of a fine. On Counts 3 and 4, he was sentenced to one year imprisonment each, with an option of a ₦200,000 fine. The sentences are to run concurrently.
The judge also ordered the forfeiture of the iPhone 16 to the Federal Government. It is to be disposed of by public auction in line with Section 31 of the EFCC Establishment Act, 2004.
