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.