Three 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 (OOPL) in Ogun State on Friday, pleaded guilty to separate cybercrime charges.
The EFCC had arraigned them before the vacation judge, Justice Dehinde Dipeolu of the Federal High Court in Lagos, on multiple charges, including false pretence, identity theft, and obtaining money under false pretences, violating the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc) Act of 2015 and the EFCC Act of 2004.
While three defendants pleaded guilty to the offences, the fourth defendant pleaded not guilty and was remanded in custody.
The convicts, Isaac Akinwale, Ibrahim Azeez Olatunji, and Habeeb Oladipupo Oshundairo, are part of the 93 suspected fraudsters arrested in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital.
During the proceedings, an EFCC operative, Umar Shuaibu, testified that Akinwale used a false female identity to carry out an online celebrity scam, defrauding a victim of $500.
The prosecution, led by Franklin Ofoma, tendered a 2007 Toyota Camry, a Galaxy phone, and a bank draft as evidence against the convict.
Following his plea, Justice Dipeolu sentenced Akinwale to three months’ imprisonment or a fine of N1 million.
The court also sentenced Olatunji to one month’s imprisonment or a fine of N150,000 for his involvement in a romance scam.
Additionally, after being convicted on two counts of impersonation and retaining 50,000 Naira from his victim, Oshundairo was sentenced to 30 days of community service, which includes carrying a banner that reads, “Cybercrime Does Not Pay. Stay Away from Cybercrime. “
However, the fourth defendant, Onunoye Fawas Olamilekan, pleaded not guilty to the charges of impersonating “Nurse Becky” on Facebook and retaining $50 obtained through fraud.
His lawyer challenged the validity of the charges, asserting that the cited section of the Cybercrimes Act did not exist.
Consequently, Justice Dipeolu ordered Olamilekan’s remand at the Ikoyi Correctional Centre pending trial set for October 31, 2025.
