The Ibadan Zonal Office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, on Wednesday said it arrested 39 suspected internet fraudsters otherwise called ‘Yahoo Boys’ in separate operations in Osun and Ogun states on Tuesday.
Recall that a violent protest trailed the arrest of some suspected internet fraudsters by the EFCC in parts of Osun State on Tuesday.
A total of 10 suspects were arrested in Ilesha, Osun State, while 29 others were reportedly arrested in different locations in Ago-Iwoye, Ogun State.
The names of those arrested in Ilesha were given as Oyesoji Tosin, Olaniyi Emmanuel, Samson Ojo, Sodiq Sunkanmi, Kolawole Abiodun, Oluwole Gbenga, Olajuyigbe Olamide, Oyebanji Olabisi Temitope, Ayoola Oluwafemi, and Oluwatobiloba Gbadamosi.
Those arrested at Ago-Iwoye include Emmanuel Lawal, Kareem Olamide, Adekunle Kehinde Salawu, Bella Tijesu, Aderibigbe Adedoyin, Anifowose Hammed, Lateef Adetayo, Busari Oluwatobi, Tobi Adeyemi, Gabriel Obisesan, Oluwole Olasunkanmi and Odetola Samson.
Others are Farouq Dosu, Ayilara Akindeji, Ademola Adedare, Ishola Adeleke, Alex Olasunmade, Idowu Abolaji, Okegbenro Idris, Akinlolu Akintunde, Oshoboke Shashaeniyan, Adeyemi Opeyemi, Oluwatoyin Olutekunbi, Albert Charles, Olawuyi Olanrewaju, Tunde Adekoya, Gbolahan Olalekan, Alade Oluwasegun and Ajanaku Qudus.
Wilson Uwujaren, Head, Media and Publicity, EFCC, said the suspects were arrested after series of surveillance based on intelligence on their alleged criminal activities.
Items recovered from them include seven cars, laptop computers, mobile phones, and several documents containing false presences.
Uwujaren said the suspects will be charged to court as soon as investigations are concluded.
It will be recalled that earlier on Friday, the EFCC announced that it arrested some suspected internet fraudsters in their hideout at Wisdom Estate, Akobo area of Ibadan.
The Commission’s spokesman said the early morning operation resulted in the arrest of seven suspects who are between 17 and 29 years old.
The suspects’ names are Sodiq Oluwasegun, Opeyemi Jamiu, Babatunde Damilare, Adisa Babatunde, Abayomi Taofeek, Oluyemi Kayode and Ambrose Timothy.
Uwujaren explained that their arrests followed series of intelligence on the alleged criminal activities of the syndicate.
Items recovered from the suspects include a Lexus RX350 SUV, laptops, different models of expensive iPhones and several documents containing false pretenses.
The suspects, Uwujaren said, would be charged to court as soon as investigations are concluded.
Earlier on Thursday, Oyelakin Babatunde was reported to have been sentenced to four months of community service for cheating by Justice Omolara Adeyemi of the Oyo State High Court, Ibadan.
The 32-year-old Babatunde, who claims to be a fashion designer, was arrested in September 2020 for allegedly obtaining money by false pretense from unsuspecting foreigners through Amazon and iTunes gift cards as well as Western Union and MoneyGram money transfer.
The offence that was allegedly committed contravenes Section 421 of the Criminal Code cap 38, laws of Oyo State, 2000 and punishable under the same section.
The accused person pleaded guilty to the one count charge brought against him by the EFCC.
Aside the jail term, the court also ordered him to restitute the sum of £950 (Nine Hundred and Fifty British Pounds) to his victims and forfeit his Lexus Rs350, one silver Hp Laptop, one white Iphone 11, one golden iPhone wrist watch and one black Nokia phone to the Federal Government.
A Federal High Court sitting in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, had sentenced Opeyemi Folarin and Ogunseye Olamilekan for fraudulent impersonation.
