The 11 undergraduates were arraigned on Monday by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibadan Zonal Command.
The arraignment of the students was contained in a release today by the EFCC Head of Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale.
The undergraduates were among the 69 suspected internet fraudsters arrested last Wednesday at Oduduwa Estate area of Ile-Ife, following actionable intelligence on their alleged involvement in fraudulent internet-related activities.
The 11 OAU undergraduates were arraigned on different count charges, ranging from one to six charges as preferred against them by the EFCC, it was stated in the release.
They include Perekebena Olombeni Micah, Nnekwelugo Nnaemeka, Moyosore Favour Oluwasakin, Aghwaritoma Wisdom Obaro and Daniel Olashile Maiye,
Others are Gbolahan Khalid Adesina, Yinka Temitope Jayeola, Olumuyiwa Emmanuel Adeleye, Abiola Emmanuel Oluwadare, Busari Abdulazeez Ayodeji and Okesipe Tobiloba Paul.
Nine of the undergraduates were arraigned on one-count charge each, while the remaining two, Micah and Obaro, had six count-charges filed against each of them.
One of the counts reads: “That you, Perekebena Olombeni Micah, sometimes in 2023 in Osogbo, Osun State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did fraudulently impersonated the name –Pies through your Whatsapp account phone number +1(414)367-9473 by claiming that you are an American female in love with your victims in the United States of America with intent to gain advantage for yourself and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 22 (2) (b) (i) and punishable under Section 22 (2) (b) of the Cyber Crimes (Prohibition, Prevention etc.) Act, 2015.”
Another count reads: “That you, Aghwaritoma Wisdom Obaro, on or about 1st November, 2023 at Ile-Ife, Osun State, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, fraudulently impersonated by representing yourself to be a white man by name Alex Stephens from United States of America to one Megan Johnson, through your Google Chat and your email address (alexsteps678@gmail.com) with intent to gain advantage for yourself and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 22 (2) (b) (i) and punishable under Section 22 (2) (b) of the Cyber Crimes (Prohibition, Prevention etc.) Act, 2015.”
Upon their arraignments, all the arraigned undergraduates pleaded “not guilty” to the charges when they were read to them.
Consequently, prosecution counsel, Oluwatoyin Owodunni prayed, the court for trial dates and the remand of the defendants at a Correctional Centre.
In response, defence counsels to Ayodeji, Adesina, Oluwasakin, Micah, Adeleye and Okesipe informed the court of “motions for bail applications” filed on behalf of their clients.
The defence counsels also stated that the motions have been served on the prosecution and therefore urgee the court to admit the six defendants to bail in the most liberal terms.
Justice Ayo-Emmanuel, having listened to the prayers of both parties, admitted Ayodeji, Adesina, Oluwasakin, Micah, Adeleye and Okesipe to bail.
Ayodeji, Adesina, Oluwasakin, Adeleye and Okesipe were admitted to bail in the sum of N2million each, while Micah was granted bail in the sum of N3million.
Other bail conditions included two sureties in like sum; first surety must be the defendant’s father or mother; second surety must be a relative, sibling, clergy or civil servant with the Osun State Government;
The sureties must depose to an affidavit of means and both residential and office addresses of the sureties, as well as their statuses must be provided and verified by the court registrar.
Justice Ayo-Emmanuel adjourned the matters to 29 November and 12 December, 2023, respectively for commencement of trial.
On the other of the judge, the 11 undergraduates were remanded at the Ilesa Correctional Centre, Osun State, pending the perfection of their bail conditions.
