Four young men arrested during a sting operation at a hotel within the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library complex in Abeokuta, Ogun State, have been convicted for internet-related crimes. The suspects — Isaac Akinwale, Ibrahim Azeez Olatunji, Habeeb Oshundairo and Bisiriyu Roqeeb Abiodun — were arraigned before Justice Dehinde Dipeolu of the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos, where they all pleaded guilty to charges bordering on impersonation, identity theft and obtaining money by false pretence.
They were among the 93 persons apprehended by operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) during a raid on August 10, 2025, which targeted a pool party believed to be a front for cybercrime activities. Prosecuting counsel Umar Shuaibu told the court that Akinwale posed as a female celebrity to defraud victims of $500, with a Toyota Camry, a Samsung Galaxy phone and a ₦400,000 draft recovered from him. Olatunji was said to have engaged in romance scams to obtain money from unsuspecting victims.
In sentencing, Justice Dipeolu gave Akinwale a three-month jail term or an option of a ₦1 million fine, while Olatunji got one month in prison or a ₦500,000 fine. Oshundairo was ordered to perform 30 days of community service in Igbesa and carry a banner reading “Cybercrime Does Not Pay. Stay Away from Cybercrime.” Abiodun received similar penalties for his role in the fraudulent scheme.
However, a fifth suspect, Onunoye Fawas Olamilekan, who allegedly impersonated “Nurse Becky” on Facebook to swindle $50, pleaded not guilty. His lawyer challenged the charge on the grounds that it cited a non-existent section of the Cybercrimes Act. He was remanded at the Ikoyi Correctional Centre pending trial, which has been fixed for October 31, 2025.
The EFCC said the convictions were part of ongoing efforts to prosecute those arrested in the raid, with more suspects expected to be arraigned in batches.