On Monday, Justice Alexander Owoeye of the Federal High Court in Lagos sentenced TikToker Olamide Bello to three years in prison after convicting him of impersonation. Bello was found guilty of posing as an American woman named “Keanu Reeves” and defrauding unsuspecting victims in a romance scam. However, the court gave him the option to pay a N600,000 fine as an alternative to the jail sentence.
In addition to the prison sentence, the court ordered the confiscation of Bello’s assets, including two iPhones 14 Pro Max and a 2013 GLK vehicle, to be forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria.
The sentence will take effect retroactively from December 6, 2024, when Bello was arrested. Bello, who is a father to a nine-month-old child, used a fake identity to trick individuals into forming romantic connections for fraudulent purposes.
Bello’s defense lawyer, E.O. Ajoku, argued for a non-custodial sentence, emphasizing that his client was a first-time offender and had been in custody since December. Ajoku also highlighted that Bello was the sole provider for his family, including his late father’s dependents, and expressed remorse for his actions.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), which brought the charges against Bello, confirmed that they were unaware of any prior convictions. Bello pleaded guilty to the charge, which violated the Cybercrimes Prohibition and Prevention Act of 2015.
The court adjourned the final sentencing to February 3, 2025, with the case garnering attention for its implications in combating online fraud in Nigeria.
