The Lagos Zonal Directorate 2 of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Wednesday, August 27, 2025, secured the conviction and sentence of three internet fraudsters before Justice D.I.Dipeolu of the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos.
The convicts are: Shodeinde Taiwo Samuel, Oyetunde Eniola Ayomide and Akinola Samuel Bolutife.
They are among the 93 suspected fraudsters arrested in a sting operation on Sunday, August 10, 2025 at a hotel within the precincts of Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library, OOPL, Abeokuta, Ogun State.
They were arraigned on Wednesday, August 27, 2025, on a one-count charge bordering on impersonation, identity and internet fraud.
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 yourself out on Telegram as Mabella Smith, with the 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.”
They pleaded “guilty” to the charges when they were read to them.
In view of their guilty pleas, prosecution counsel, I.G.Akhanolu, Ayanfe Olowonihi and M.S.Yabo, called on AbangArmstrong Bisong and Umar Abbah Giade, who are operatives of the EFCC, to review the facts of the cases.
The prosecution counsel, thereafter, respectively sought to tender, in evidence, the extra-judicial statements of the defendants; the iPhone 14 and a Samsung phone recovered from Samuel, the N250,000 manager’s cheque issued by him; the iPhone 11 recovered from Ayomide; the iPhone 6 pro recovered from Bolutife and the N45,000 manager’s cheque issued as restitution by him as well as the forensic investigation documents printed from their mobile devices.
They were all admitted as exhibits by the court.
The judge, in view of the defendants’ guilty pleas and evidence tendered by the prosecution, found them guilty and convicted them accordingly.
The defence counsel, A.A. Okoli and J. Jacob, passionately prayed the court to “temper justice with mercy,” and grant their clients non-custodial sentences, adding that they were first-time offenders who have shown remorse.
Delivering judgment, Justice Dipeolu convicted and sentenced Samuel, who confessed to have benefited $200, to three months imprisonment from the day of arrest, with the option of a N300,000 fine.
The judge also ordered his mobile devices as well as the 250,000 manager’s cheque issued by him to be forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria.
Justice Dipeolu ordered Ayomide to pay a N50,000 fine. The judge also ordered his iPhone 11 forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria
The judge also convicted and sentenced Bolutife, who confessed to have benefited the sum of €25 , to one month imprisonment from the day of arrest, with the option of a N100,000 fine. The iPhone 6 pro and the N45,000 bank draft he issued as restitution were ordered forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria.
