Justice Dehinde Dipeolu of the Federal High Court in Lagos on Friday convicted three internet fraudsters who pleaded guilty to various cybercrime-related offences, while a fourth defendant pleaded not guilty and was remanded in custody.
The convicts — Isaac Akinwale, Ibrahim Azeez Olatunji, and Habeeb Oladipupo Oshundairo — were among 93 suspected internet fraudsters arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) at a hotel within the premises of the former President Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library complex in Abeokuta.
They were charged with offences relating to false pretence, identity theft, and obtaining money under false pretence, contrary to the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2015, and the EFCC Act, 2004.
During the proceedings, EFCC operative Umar Shuaibu testified that Akinwale used a false female identity to conduct an online celebrity scam, defrauding a victim of $500. The prosecution, led by Franklin Ofoma, presented evidence including a 2007 Toyota Camry, a Galaxy smartphone, and a bank draft of N400,000.
Justice Dipeolu sentenced Isaac Akinwale to three months’ imprisonment or a fine of N1 million. Ibrahim Azeez Olatunji was sentenced to one month in prison or a fine of N500,000 for a romance scam. Habeeb Oladipupo Oshundairo received a sentence of 30 days of community service and was ordered to carry a placard that reads “Cybercrime Does Not Pay. Stay Away from Cybercrime” after being convicted of impersonation and retaining N600,000 in criminal proceeds.
In contrast, Onunoye Fawas Olamilekan pleaded not guilty to charges of impersonating a fictitious “Nurse Becky” on Facebook and retaining $50 fraudulently obtained. His legal representative challenged the validity of the charges, citing an error in referencing the Cybercrimes Act. The court overruled the objection and ordered Olamilekan’s remand at Ikoyi Correctional Centre, with his trial set to continue on October 31, 2025.
