The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, is frantically hunting for one Ekweozor Peter, a suspected internet fraudster, who posed as a female pornstar from Atlanta, United States of America, to defraud unsuspecting users of the internet.
Justice Abike-Fadipe of the Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos, on Tuesday, May 13, 2025, issued a warrant for the arrest of Peter for failing to appear in court for his arraignment.
The EFCC spokesman, Dele Oyewale said that Peter was
Arrested alongside others on May 13, 2024, following credible intelligence received by the Commission about the alleged criminal activities of a syndicate of internet fraudsters operating at the Indy-Pool Hotel, Idowu Street, Ajegunle, Apapa, Lagos State.
Oyewale added: “Investigation revealed that he opened fake Facebook and Instagram accounts and falsely represented himself as a female pornstar from Atlanta, United States of America, to defraud unsuspecting users of the internet.
During the investigation, the defendant was granted administrative bail and was scheduled to report at the Lagos Zonal Directorate 1 of the EFCC on some specified dates. Upon conclusion of the investigation, a charge was preferred against him before the court.
“At the scheduled sitting on Tuesday, prosecution counsel, Ayanfe Ogunsina, told the court the Commission’s efforts to re-arrest the defendant, since he jumped the administrative bail granted him and owing to this, he could not be brought before the court for arraignment.”
Ogunsina reportedly told the court: “Efforts to reach the two persons who stood as sureties for him have also been futile, as they too have absconded. My Lord, the defendant is aware that a charge has been filed against him and he is on the run to evade arraignment and trial.”
Ogunsina consequently filed a motion ex parte seeking an order of the court to issue a warrant of arrest against the defendant.
Ruling on the application, Justice Fadipe held that “the application is granted as prayed”.
The case was adjourned till June 18, 2025, for further proceedings.
