An Ekiti State High Court in Ado Ekiti has sentenced one Ayomide Ademiloye Ifeoluwa to 20 year imprisonment for fraud related offences.
The 25 year old convict was arraigned before Justice Bamidele Omotosho on 5th May, 2026 on four count charge bordering on obtaining money by false pretense and impersonation.
The charge reads that, the defendant sometimes between the year 2025 and 2026 at Ado Ekiti within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did obtain the sum of $700 through his Bybit cash App wallets account from one Teresa Hodder, while representing himself as a male American citizen by name Charles Brandon on WhatsApp and $200 in the form of gift card. Also between year 2025 and 2026 with intent to defraud one Shanon on his WhatsApp account, did falsely represent himself as Charlse Brandon, a male American citizen, a representation he knew to be false.
According to the charge, the offences are contrary to sections 1(1)b and 1(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and other related offences Act, 2006 and Section 391(1) of the Criminal Laws law of Ekiti State 2021.
At the arraignment, the charge was read and interpreted to the defendant but pleaded guilty. The court queried whether he admitted the allegations in the Amended charge and that he entered into the plea Bargain Agreement voluntarily and without any undue influence, He answered in affirmative.
To prove his case, the prosecutor, who represented the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Y.K. Saidu while establishing his case, called a witness and also tendered Extra Judicial Statement of the defendant, statement of Account of the defendant, printed document, phone and electronic devices recovered from the defendant, transaction receipt, land sales agreement and iPhone 16 among others.
The defendant’s counsel M.A. Adebisi did not cross- examine the prosecution’s sole witness.
Upon conclusion of the witness, the prosecution informed the court that he had no record of previous conviction of the defendant and that he had not made any restitution. He prayed the court that the iPhone 16 recovered from the defendant in the course of investigation be fortified to the Federal Government of Nigeria and be disposed of by public auction while the proceeds of sale be restored to the victim.
In his judgement, Justice Omotoso said, on counts 1 and 2 the defendant is sentenced to 9 years imprisonment each without an option of fine.
On count 3 and 4, the defendant is sentenced to a term of one year imprisonment with an option of fine in the sum of ₦200,000 each.
The terms of the imprisonment in respect of the four counts shall run concurrently.
It is further ordered that the iPhone 16 recovered from the defendant be forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria and same shall be disposed off by public auction in accordance with the provision of section 31 of the EFCC Establishment Act, 2004, and the proceed shall be restored to the victim, the judge pronounced.
