The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has
secured the conviction of three more alleged internet fraudsters before D.I.
Dipeolu, presiding judge of the federal high court in Ikoyi, Lagos.
The convicts — Shodeinde Taiwo Samuel, Oyetunde Eniola
Ayomide, and Akinola Samuel Bolutife — were among the 93 suspects arrested
during a sting operation on August 10, at a hotel within the precincts the
Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL) in Abeokuta, capital of Ogun
state.
They faced a one-count charge each, relating to
impersonation, identity fraud, and internet fraud under the Cybercrimes
(Prohibition, Prevention etc.) Act, 2015.
On Thursday, Samuel was charged with impersonating “Andy
Dante”, a female foreign national on Facebook, to defraud unsuspecting victims.
Ayomide, also known as “Jessicabrowns”, was accused of using
a TikTok account to impersonate “Jessica Brown”, a white female, to deceive a
victim; while Bolutife was charged with posing as “Mabella Smith” on Telegram
to commit fraud.
All three pleaded guilty to the charges.
During the trial, prosecution counsels presented
extra-judicial statements, mobile phones (including iPhone 14, iPhone 11, and
iPhone 6 Pro), manager’s cheques, and forensic investigation reports as
evidence — all admitted by the court.
Justice Dipeolu sentenced Samuel to three months’
imprisonment from the date of arrest, with an option to pay a fine of N300,000
after Samuel confessed to profiting $200 from his crimes.
She ruled that his mobile devices and a N250,000 manager’s
cheque should be forfeited to the federal government.
Ayomide was fined N50,000, and his iPhone 11 was forfeited
to the government.
Bolutife received a one-month jail term from the date of
arrest, with an option to pay a N100,000 fine.
His iPhone 6 Pro and a N45,000 bank draft issued as
restitution were also forfeited after he admitted to benefitting €25 from the
fraud.
Defence lawyers pleaded for leniency, citing their clients
as first-time offenders who had shown remorse.
Four of the suspects arrested at the library complex were
convicted on August 15; with three others convicted on August 18.
THE CHARGES
The charge against Samuel reads: “COUNT 1: That you
SHODEINDE TAIWO OLADIPUPO SAMUEL, on or about the 10% August, 2025. within the
jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, and with intent to gain advantage, held
out yourself as “Andy Dante”, a female foreign national through Facebook
Account to unsuspecting members of the public, wherein you gain financial
benefit to yourself and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable
under Section 22(2)(b) of the Cyber Crimes (Prohibition Prevention etc.) Act,
Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2015″.
The charge against Ayomide reads: “That you, OYETUNDE ENIOLA
AYOMIDE (a.k.a ‘Jessicabrowns’), sometime in January, 2025 within the
jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, had in your possession a “Tit tok
Account titled: ‘jessicabrown” wherein you fraudulently represented yourself as
‘Jessica Brown’ a White Female to one Jason Duke through your TikTok account,
which is connected to your IphoneX 11 with no: 09010295681 with intent to gain
advantage for yourself contrary to S. 22(2) (b)(i) of the Cybercrimes
(Prohibition, Prevention etc.) Act, 2015 and punishable under S. 22(2b) (iv) of
the same law”.
The charge against Bolutife reads: “That you, AKINOLA SAMUEL
BOLUTIFE, (Male) sometime in 2025 within the Jurisdiction of this Honourable
Court, fraudulently held out yourself on Telegram as Mabella Smith, with
intention to gain advantage for yourself and you thereby committed an offence
contrary to and punishment Section 22 of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition etc) Act,
Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2015”.
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