Eleven students from Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) in Osun State, Nigeria, were brought to the Federal High Court in Osogbo on November 6, 2023, on charges related to internet fraud. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in the Ibadan Zonal Command arraigned them before Justice Nathaniel Ayo-Emmanuel. These students faced varying counts of charges, with some having up to six charges against them. Their names include Perekebena Olombeni Micah, Nnekwelugo Nnaemeka, Moyosore Favour Oluwasakin, Aghwaritoma Wisdom Obaro, and Daniel Olashile Maiye, among others.
The accused were part of 69 individuals suspected of internet fraud and arrested on November 1, 2023, in the Oduduwa Estate area of Ile-Ife, Osun State, based on intelligence related to fraudulent internet activities. Upon hearing the charges, all the defendants pleaded not guilty (OAU).
The prosecution counsel, Oluwatoyin Owodunni, requested trial dates and the remand of the defendants in a Correctional Centre. The defense counsels for Ayodeji, Adesina, Oluwasakin, Micah, Adeleye, and Okesipe informed the court about bail applications filed on behalf of their clients and requested that the court grant bail to these six defendants on liberal terms, OAU.
Justice Ayo-Emmanuel granted bail to Ayodeji, Adesina, Oluwasakin, Micah, Adeleye, and Okesipe. Ayodeji, Adesina, Oluwasakin, Adeleye, and Okesipe were each admitted to bail with a sum of N2,000,000, while Micah’s bail was set at N3,000,000. The bail conditions required two sureties for each defendant, with the first surety being their parent and the second surety being a relative, sibling, clergy, or civil servant with the Osun State Government. The sureties were required to provide affidavits of means and verify their residential and office addresses, as well as their statuses with the court registrar.
Conclusion: EFCC attack in OAU
The judge adjourned the cases to November 29 and December 12, 2023, respectively, for the commencement of the trial and remanded the defendants at the Ilesha Correctional Centre in Osun State until they fulfilled their bail conditions, OAU
Source: The guardian
