Corps member, 38 others jailed for Internet fraud in Ogun, Oyo

• Fire guts Ibadan WEMA Bank building

THE Ibadan Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission ( EFCC), has secured conviction and sentencing of a corps member, Osisi Ikenna Nicholas to one- month community service for his involvement in internet- related fraud.

Osisi was convicted alongside 38 others on separate one- count charge each before Justices Bayo Taiwo, Omolara Adeyemi, Ladoke Akintola, Mohammed Owolabi of the Oyo State High Court, Ibadan and Justice Opeyemi Sobowale of the Ogun State High Court, Abeokuta between November 21 and November 25, 2022.

The sentences range from a fine, one to six months community service, and one- year imprisonment. The convicts were ordered to restitute their various victims and forfeit all items recovered from them to the Federal Government of Nigeria.

EANWHILE, the Wema bank building Agodi, Ibadan, was yesterday gutted by fire, which emanated from the main building.

An eyewitness said the incident started at about 7: 30a. m., while no life was lost.

“We noticed smoke was coming out from the building, and immediately called the fire services to curtail it from spreading to other places, especially the filling station beside the bank,” the witness said. When The Guardian visited the scene, thick smoke was still bellowing into the air, while staff, visitors, customers and passersby were seen standing at a safe distance outside the bank premises.

Also, Oyo State Police Command and the state Road Traffic Management Agency barricaded the scene to prevent breakdown of law and order. The General Manager, Oyo State Fire Services, Yemi Akinyinka, who was present at the scene said investigation was ongoing to know the cause of the fire.