A Federal High Court in Lagos on Friday sentenced three internet fraudsters to jail after they admitted committing cybercrime-related offences, while ordering the remand of a fourth suspect who pleaded not guilty.
Justice Dehinde Dipeolu delivered the verdict following guilty pleas from Isaac Akinwale, Ibrahim Azeez Olatunji, and Habeeb Oladipupo Oshundairo. They were among 93 suspects arrested during an Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) raid on a hotel within the former President Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library complex in Abeokuta, Ogun State.
The trio faced multiple charges, including false pretence, identity theft, and obtaining money under false pretence, under the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2015, and the EFCC Act, 2004.
EFCC operative Umar Shuaibu told the court that Akinwale impersonated a woman online to run a celebrity scam, defrauding a victim of $500. Prosecuting counsel Franklin Ofoma presented a 2007 Toyota Camry, a Galaxy phone, and a bank draft of N400,000 as exhibits.
Justice Dipeolu sentenced Akinwale to three months in prison or a N1 million fine. Olatunji received one month in prison or a N500,000 fine for a romance scam, while Oshundairo was ordered to perform 30 days of community service, including carrying a banner stating: “Cybercrime Does Not Pay. Stay Away from Cybercrime.” He was convicted for impersonation and retaining N600,000 in criminal proceeds.
Meanwhile, the fourth defendant, Onunoye Fawas Olamilekan, denied posing as “Nurse Becky” on Facebook and keeping $50 obtained through fraud. His lawyer challenged the validity of the charges, arguing that the cited section of the Cybercrimes Act does not exist. Justice Dipeolu, however, remanded him in the Ikoyi Correctional Centre pending trial on 31st October 2025.
The EFCC further told the court that in 2025, Akinwale fraudulently used WhatsApp accounts under the names “Monica” and “Daisy” to deceive unsuspecting members of the public, while Oshundairo posed as an expert in service certificates and internal revenue preparation through his Gmail account (perezdavis2377@gmail.com). Olamilekan was accused of pretending to be “Nurse Becky” on Facebook (joypitard86@gmail.com) to gain advantage for himself.
