Police Arraign 2 For ‘Fabricated’ Moniepoint Scandal Claims

The police have filed a criminal charge against two suspects, Adebayo Aliu and Fatuntele Lukmon Tunde, before a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, over allegations of cyberstalking of a financial institution, Moniepoint.

They were expected to be arraigned before Justice Ofili Ajumogobia of the court on a seven-count charge yesterday, but the arraignment could not proceed due to the defendants’ absence.

They were neither present nor  represented in court by any counsel.

Following their absence and non-representation by counsel, Justice Ajimogobia adjourned the case to April 27.

According to the charge, they were said to have conspired, aided and abetted between themselves to cyberstalk Moniepoint Micro Finance Bank (MFB) by creating a fraudulent platform to solicit online tumultuous  engagement by promising a sum of five hundred thousand Naira (N500,000)  to unsuspecting victims who would comment with the phrase “ Moniepoint Scandal” and share any imaginary scandalous experience regarding Moniepoint MFB, for the purpose of causing a breakdown of law and order.

In the suit with charge number FHC/ABJ/CR/122/2026, signed by Anthony A. Egwu Esq., a police officer, the suspects were also accused of creating a fraudulent platform to solicit online tumultuous  engagement of the public by promising a sum of five hundred thousand Naira (N500,000)  to unsuspecting victims who would comment with the phrase “ Moniepoint Scandal” and share any imaginary scandalous experience regarding Moniepoint MFB, a platform they knowingly and intentionally created to bully, threaten or harass the corporate image of Moniepoint MFB.

According to the police, the offence is said to be contrary to Section 27(2)(b) of the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention etc) Act 2015 (as amended) 2024 and punishable under S. 24(1)(b) of the same Act.

They were also said to have fraudulently impersonated Brain Jotter, a social media influencer, in order to pervert or defeat the course of justice by creating a fraudulent platform to solicit tumultuous public engagement online by promising a sum of five hundred thousand Naira (N500,000) to unsuspecting victims.

The case centers on alleged violations of Nigeria’s Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.). Act 2015 (as amended in 2024) arising from a purportedly coordinated online campaign targeting Moniepoint Microfinance Bank.

The defendants are accused of creating a digital platform that allegedly promised ₦500,000 to individuals who would post comments containing the phrase “Moniepoint Scandal” alongside fabricated experiences about the bank, with the intent of generating widespread online agitation and reputational harm.

The prosecution further alleged that the platform was deliberately designed to stimulate “tumultuous online engagement” based on false narratives and that the accused persons also impersonated a popular social media influencer (Brian Jotter) during the alleged scheme.

The proceedings could test the application of Nigeria’s cybercrime legislation in cases involving monetised social media manipulation, coordinated digital harassment, and online impersonation.

Witnesses and evidence have also been attached to the charge, which shall be produced before the court during the trials.