The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has secured the conviction of three internet fraudsters arrested at a hotel within the premises of the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL) complex in Abeokuta, Ogun State.
Justice Dehinde Dipeolu, sitting as a vacation judge, convicted Isaac Akinwale, Ibrahim Azeez Olatunji, and Habeeb Oladipupo Oshundairo after they pleaded guilty to cybercrime-related offences. The trio were among 93 suspected internet fraudsters apprehended by the EFCC during the operation.
According to the EFCC, the offences included obtaining money by false pretence, identity theft, and other violations under the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2015, and the EFCC Act, 2004.
An EFCC operative, Umar Shuaibu, testified that Akinwale posed online as a female celebrity to defraud a victim of $500. Evidence presented by the prosecution, led by Franklin Ofoma, included a 2007 Toyota Camry, a Galaxy phone, and a bank draft of ₦400,000.
Justice Dipeolu sentenced Akinwale to three months’ imprisonment or a ₦1 million fine. Olatunji received one month’s imprisonment or a ₦500,000 fine for his role in a romance scam. Oshundairo was ordered to perform 30 days of community service, which will include displaying a banner with the inscription: “Cybercrime Does Not Pay. Stay Away from Cybercrime.”
A fourth defendant, Onunoye Fawas Olamilekan, pleaded not guilty to charges of impersonating “Nurse Becky” on Facebook and retaining $50 obtained through fraud. His lawyer challenged the validity of the charge, claiming the cited section of the Cybercrimes Act did not exist. He has been remanded at the Ikoyi Correctional Centre until his trial, set for October 31, 2025.
The EFCC disclosed that 23 suspects were billed for arraignment, but only four cases could be heard during the session.
