Three men arrested in connection with a cybercrime raid at a hotel located within the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL) complex in Abeokuta, Ogun State, have been convicted by a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos.
Justice Dehinde Dipeolu, on Friday, found Isaac Akinwale, Ibrahim Azeez Olatunji, and Habeeb Oladipupo Oshundairo guilty of internet fraud-related offences.
They were among 93 suspects apprehended in a sting operation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in the Ogun State capital.
The trio faced separate charges bordering on false pretence, identity theft, and obtaining money through fraud, in violation of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2015, and the EFCC Act, 2004.
During the proceedings, EFCC operative Umar Shuaibu told the court that Akinwale posed online as a woman to run a celebrity scam, defrauding a victim of $500.
Exhibits tendered by the prosecution included a 2007 Toyota Camry, a Galaxy phone, and a bank draft of N400,000.
Justice Dipeolu sentenced Akinwale to three months’ imprisonment or an option of a N1 million fine. Olatunji, who was involved in a romance scam, bagged one month in prison or a N500,000 fine, while Oshundairo was ordered to perform 30 days of community service, including carrying a placard with the inscription: “Cybercrime Does Not Pay. Stay Away from Cybercrime.”
Oshundairo was convicted for impersonation and for retaining N600,000 in criminal proceeds.
Meanwhile, a fourth defendant, Onunoye Fawas Olamilekan, pleaded not guilty to charges of posing as “Nurse Becky” on Facebook and retaining $50 allegedly obtained through fraud.
His lawyer challenged the validity of the charges, claiming the referenced section of the Cybercrimes Act did not exist.
Justice Dipeolu ordered Olamilekan’s remand at the Ikoyi Correctional Centre pending the continuation of his trial on October 31, 2025.
The EFCC said Akinwale, using the aliases “Monica” and “Daisy” on WhatsApp, lured unsuspecting victims for financial gain, while Oshundairo impersonated an expert in service certificates and internal revenue preparation through his Gmail account.
The commission vowed to intensify its crackdown on cybercrime, warning that perpetrators would face both criminal penalties and public exposure.
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