‘Yahoo Boy’ Bags 14-Month Jail Term For N19.6m Fraud

 

By Yusuf Oketola

A 32-year-old Civil Engineering Graduate, Samuel Oteyewo has been sentenced to 14-month imprisonment by the Federal High Court sitting in Osogbo, State of Osun for defrauding an American, Warren Doht the sum of N19, 664,128.00 through dating scam.

Oteyewo, who was arraigned at the court by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), was convicted on a count charge of criminal impersonation. 

The convict was part of the suspected internet fraudsters notoriously known as ‘yahoo boys’ who were arrested by the EFCC at Club Secret in Osogbo, on October 15, 2019.

Oteyewo’s bank accounts’ statements, email conversations with his victim, cheques and others were tendered as exhibit. 

Prosecution Counsel of the EFCC, Mr. Murtala Usman, tendered an intelligence report, documents printed from Oteyewo’s e-mails, letter to his banks requesting for his bank records, recorded statements, response from the banks, bank drafts and cheque as exhibits before the court.

The crime committed by the convict contravened Section 22(2) (b) (ii) of the Cyber Crimes (Prohibition, Prevention Etc) Act, 2015 and punishable under Section 22 (2) of the same Act.

Oyetewo pleaded guilty to the allegation. 

Defence Counsel, Ismail Oduneye, while making his allocution said: “Pursuant to the plea of the defendants, he is a responsible citizen and a first offender and who has regretted his action. 

“He said he was persuaded to commit the offence due to the age of his ailing father as the eldest son, due to unemployment and other factors. He had to commit this offence to take care of his father.”

Oduneye told the court that the offence committed by the defendant has an option of fine, praying the court to temper justice with mercy on him.

OSUN DEFENDER gathered the convict had earlier approached the EFCC for a plea bargain, which formed the basis for the amendment of the charge sheet with which he was arraigned and convicted on Monday.

In his judgment, Justice Emmanuel Ayoola said the sum of the N19million should be forfeited to the Federal Government and paid to the convict’s victims Warren Doht, through EFCC.

Justice Ayoola thereafter sentenced Oyetewo to 14-month imprisonment, which will run from the day of his arrest.