EFCC charges 11 OAU students for alleged internet fraud

The Ibadan zonal office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned eleven students from Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) in Ile Ife, Osun State, on allegations of internet fraud.

In a statement released by Dele Oyewale, the Head of Media and Publicity at EFCC, the students were arraigned on Monday before Justice Nathaniel Ayo-Emmanuel at the Federal High Court in Osogbo, Osun State. The charges against them vary, ranging from one to six counts as preferred by the commission.

The accused students include Perekebena Olombeni Micah, Nnekwelugo Nnaemeka, Moyosore Favour Oluwasakin, Aghwaritoma Wisdom Obaro, Daniel Olashile Maiye, Gbolahan Khalid Adesina, Yinka Temitope Jayeola, Olumuyiwa Emmanuel Adeleye, Abiola Emmanuel Oluwadare, Busari Abdulazeez Ayodeji, and Okesipe Tobiloba Paul.

Nine of the defendants face one-count charges each, while Micah and Obaro are facing six-count charges. The trial is set to begin on November 29 and December 12, 2023.

As of now, the accused students are remanded at the Ilesha Correctional Centre in Osun State while awaiting the fulfillment of their bail conditions.

These students were among 69 suspected internet fraudsters apprehended on November 1, 2023, in the Oduduwa Estate area of Ile-Ife, Osun State, based on actionable intelligence about their alleged involvement in fraudulent internet-related activities.