Crime
Lagos Court Convicts Four Internet Fraudsters, Orders Jail Terms and Fines
LAGOS, Nigeria — A Federal High Court in Lagos has convicted four young men for internet fraud, sentencing them to prison terms with options of heavy fines.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
The Lagos Zonal Directorate 1 of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) announced the convictions on Wednesday, September 24, 2025. Justice Dehinde Dipeolu handed down the sentences at the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi.
The convicts — Martins Emmanuel, Abeeb Olamide Asiru, Iremide Owolabi, and Quadri Abdulrasheed Adio — were arrested on August 29 in a sting operation at Mambillah Hotel, Ikorodu, following intelligence reports about suspected online fraud activities at the location.
The Charges
Each of the men faced separate one-count charges of fraudulent impersonation and related cybercrimes.
One of the charges stated that Asiru, who also went by the alias “Dolly Parton,” used a Facebook account to pose as the American singer with the intent to gain financial benefits. This act violated Section 22(2)(b) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act of 2015.
Another charge revealed that Emmanuel pretended to be a white woman named “Rose Heathers56” on TikTok. Prosecutors said he made false statements with the intention of obtaining financial instruments. His actions violated Section 22(3) of the same Act.
The other two defendants, Owolabi and Adio, were also accused of using false online identities for fraudulent purposes.
Court Proceedings
When the charges were read in court, all four defendants pleaded guilty.
Prosecution counsel H.U. Kofarnaisa presented the case by reviewing facts through investigating officers Ibrahim Bukar, Samson Aguma, and Ruth Odang. The officers submitted the defendants’ written statements and the mobile devices seized during the arrests.
Kofarnaisa urged the court to convict the men as charged, citing strong evidence and their own confessions.
Justice Dipeolu agreed and convicted all four defendants.
Sentences and Penalties
Emmanuel was sentenced to three months in prison but could pay a fine of ₦600,000 ($700) in place of serving the jail term.
Asiru received a harsher penalty of six months imprisonment, with the option of a ₦2 million ($2,300) fine.
Owolabi and Adio each received three months imprisonment, with the option of paying fines of ₦800,000 ($900) each.
The judge also ordered that all the mobile phones recovered from the convicts be forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria.
Crackdown on Cybercrime
Nigeria has seen a rise in internet-related fraud cases, often referred to locally as “Yahoo Yahoo.” The EFCC, the country’s main anti-graft agency, has carried out frequent raids and sting operations targeting suspected fraudsters who use hotels, lounges, and private apartments as bases for cybercrime.
The EFCC has repeatedly warned young Nigerians to avoid online fraud and other crimes that tarnish the nation’s image internationally. The agency says it will continue its clampdown on cybercrime rings across the country.
Broader Context
Cybercrime remains a global challenge. In Nigeria, many convicted offenders are young adults who impersonate foreign celebrities or fictitious characters online to deceive victims into sending money. The practice not only leads to financial loss for victims abroad but also damages Nigeria’s reputation.
The convictions of Emmanuel, Asiru, Owolabi, and Adio send a message that such crimes will be punished under Nigerian law.
The EFCC has urged parents and community leaders to guide young people away from internet fraud, while also promising that its operatives will keep using intelligence-led operations to track down offenders.
“These convictions should serve as a warning,” an EFCC spokesperson said. “The law is clear. Anyone who engages in cybercrime will face the consequences.”
With this ruling, the court closed another chapter in Nigeria’s long battle against internet fraud. But authorities say the fight is far from over.
According to Nivo News, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) welcomed 5,000 new members in Abia State on Saturday, following the recent entry of former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, into the party.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
The mass defection was led by Bishop Emeka Nwankpa, the 2023 governorship candidate of the Accord Party, in his hometown of Umuaku, Ntigha, Isiala Ngwa North Local Government Area. Supporters who joined him also left their former political affiliations, including the South East Mandate for Good Governance, to align with the ADC.
Nwankpa explained that his decision to join the ADC was driven by a strong conviction, noting that the party’s manifesto resonates with his political philosophy, emphasizing people-oriented governance, social justice, and sustainable development. He described the ADC as a credible, progressive platform capable of fostering inclusive governance and rebuilding public trust in Nigerian politics.
The Abia State Chairman of the ADC, Don Norman Obinna, formally welcomed Nwankpa and his followers, stating that the country’s political trajectory is increasingly favoring the ADC.
The Abia State Police Command has reported the arrest of 809 suspects and the recovery of 88 firearms in 438 cases across the state from January 2025 to date.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
According to Nivo News, Commissioner of Police Danladi Isa provided the update on Friday during a briefing at his office, outlining the operational strategies and achievements of the Command during the period under review. He disclosed that 435 rounds of ammunition were recovered from suspected criminals and that over 200 suspects have been successfully prosecuted, with several jailed for various offenses.
The CP further revealed that 33 children who had been kidnapped or trafficked were rescued within and outside the state, with the suspects involved prosecuted and some already imprisoned. “We have sent a lot of people to jail. A clear message has been passed that it is no longer business as usual for criminals in Abia State,” Isa stated.
He highlighted that the state’s crime rate has declined under his leadership, attributing the success to support from Governor Alex Otti, provision of logistics, and collaboration with community stakeholders. Isa also noted that officers encountered non-state actors on several occasions, who were neutralized and disarmed.
The Police Commissioner urged residents to continue providing credible information on suspicious activities to further strengthen the fight against crime. Firearms and other weapons recovered from suspects were displayed at the Police headquarters in Umuahia for the media.
According to Nivo News, the Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Centre (NPF–NCCC) has arrested high-profile cybercrime suspects linked to a sophisticated Microsoft 365 phishing operation that targeted the email systems of major corporate organisations.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
The arrests followed actionable intelligence received from Microsoft Corporation in the United States through the Federal Bureau of Investigation, which exposed the deployment of an advanced phishing toolkit known as RaccoonO365. The toolkit was designed to create counterfeit Microsoft login pages capable of harvesting user credentials and unlawfully accessing corporate, financial, and educational email platforms.
Briefing journalists in Abuja on Thursday, the Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Benjamin Hundeyin, disclosed that the cybercrime centre launched a coordinated, intelligence-led operation in partnership with Microsoft, the FBI, and the United States Secret Service. He explained that investigations traced multiple cases of unauthorised Microsoft 365 account access recorded between January and September 2025 to phishing emails crafted to closely mimic legitimate Microsoft authentication portals.
According to police findings, the cyberattacks resulted in business email compromise, data breaches, and significant financial losses across several jurisdictions. Acting on precise intelligence, NPF–NCCC operatives conducted targeted operations in Lagos and Edo states, leading to the arrest of three suspects. Searches carried out at their residences yielded laptops, mobile phones, and other digital devices, which forensic analysis directly linked to the fraudulent activities.
Further investigations identified Okitipi Samuel, also known by the aliases “RaccoonO365” and “Moses Felix,” as the principal suspect and alleged developer of the phishing infrastructure. Police said he operated a Telegram channel through which phishing links were sold in exchange for cryptocurrency and hosted fake login portals on Cloudflare using stolen or fraudulently obtained email credentials.
The police clarified that there was no evidence connecting the two other arrested individuals to the creation or management of the phishing scheme. The Nigeria Police Force reiterated its commitment to protecting the country’s digital environment through the use of advanced technology, enhanced international cooperation, and thorough investigative and prosecutorial processes aimed at combating evolving cyber threats.
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