Three more ‘internet fraudsters’ arrested at Obasanjo library complex convicted by court

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”.