By Adebisi Adeyemi, Lagos
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, arraigned and secured the conviction of one Ayomide Olamide before Justice. H. O Eya of the Enugu State High Court, Enugu on a one–count charge bordering on conspiracy, impersonation, obtaining money under false pretences and ATM fraud.
Olamide belongs to a syndicate of fraudster that specialises in tricking members of the public to disclose their Personal Identification Numbers (PIN) to avoid being deactivated from using their Automated Teller Machine (ATM) Cards.
The petitioner alleged that he received a text message on his phone sometime in December 2016 purportedly from United Bank for Africa (UBA) customer Care department claiming that his ATM card will be stopped from operations, due to incomplete BVN registration unless he called the bank’s customer care number given as 09032578084, to update his details which he nervously did.
He further added that shortly after disclosing his bank details, his account was subsequently debited to the tune of N75,900.00 (Seventy Five Thousand Naira Only).
Investigation carried out on the matter revealed that the convict actually sent out SMS messages and used monies realised from his nefarious act to buy mobile phone airtime online.
When the case came up for arraignmnent,Olamide pleaded guilty to the charge.
In view of the accused person’s plea, the prosecuting counsel Mela Musa Gwani prayed the court to convict him accordingly.
The defense counsel, D.A Kakaan did not object but prayed his lordship to temper justice with mercy considering the fact that the accused is a first offender and had shown remorse by pleading guilty.
Justice Eya thereafter sentenced him to five months imprisonment commencing from the date of arrest and detention, 8th April, 2017.
