Crime
Man Sentenced to One Year in Lagos Court for Online Impersonation
Federal High Court in Lagos has sentenced a man to one year in prison for impersonating another person online in an attempt to defraud.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
Justice Daniel Osiagor, sitting in Ikoyi, delivered the judgment Wednesday, September 24, 2025. The convict, identified as Imran Mujeeb Ayomide, was arraigned by the Lagos Zonal Directorate 1 of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The EFCC charged Ayomide with fraudulent impersonation after investigators discovered that he had posed as a woman named Agent Julie Ann Andrews Irs using a Google account. Prosecutors told the court that Ayomide used the false identity to mislead others for his personal gain.
According to the charge sheet, the crime took place in August 2025 in Lagos. The offense violated Section 22(2)(b) of Nigeria’s Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2015, which addresses internet-related fraud and imposes penalties for offenders.
When the charge was read to him, Ayomide pleaded guilty. His plea allowed the prosecution to present evidence directly to the court without a lengthy trial.
Prosecution counsel N. C. Mutfwang reviewed the facts of the case. She submitted Ayomide’s written statement and presented a Samsung S10 smartphone recovered from him during the investigation. Mutfwang urged the court to convict him, arguing that the EFCC had provided clear evidence of the impersonation scheme.
After reviewing the evidence and Ayomide’s guilty plea, Justice Osiagor found him guilty as charged.
The judge sentenced him to one year in prison but gave him the option of paying a fine of 120,000 naira (about $160). In addition, the court ordered that the Samsung phone used in the crime be forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria.
The EFCC, in a statement, welcomed the ruling. The commission has repeatedly warned that online impersonation is one of the most common tactics used by fraudsters to deceive unsuspecting victims. By pretending to be another person, scammers often trick people into sharing sensitive information, sending money, or granting access to online accounts.
Cybercrime remains a major concern in Nigeria, where so-called “Yahoo Boys” have gained global attention for internet fraud schemes. Authorities say such crimes damage the country’s international image and discourage foreign investment.
The Cybercrimes Act of 2015 was passed to combat these offenses. It provides legal tools to prosecute offenders and sets penalties for a wide range of online crimes, including identity theft, cyberstalking, phishing, and financial fraud. Offenders can face heavy fines, imprisonment, and forfeiture of assets used in the crime.
Legal experts say Ayomide’s conviction shows that courts are increasingly enforcing the law to deter others. “Cases like this send a message that cybercrime has consequences,” said one lawyer familiar with EFCC prosecutions.
The EFCC has urged young Nigerians to avoid online fraud and instead use their digital skills for legitimate opportunities. The commission has also increased public awareness campaigns about the risks of impersonation and internet scams.
In recent years, the EFCC has secured multiple convictions for similar crimes. Many offenders are caught after impersonating foreign nationals or creating fake online profiles to deceive victims. Some target individuals through romance scams, while others impersonate officials or business representatives.
For Ayomide, the ruling means he must either serve time in prison or pay the court-ordered fine. The forfeiture of his mobile device underscores the EFCC’s stance that tools used in cybercrime will not be returned to offenders.
The judgment highlights Nigeria’s continued battle against online fraud. As internet use grows in the country, authorities say stricter enforcement of cybercrime laws is necessary to protect both local and international users.
Crime
Woman poisons Her Co-wife’s Two Children In Niger State, One Passes Away
The Niger State Police Command has arrested a woman identified as Mariya Abdullahi over the alleged poisoning of her co-wife’s two children.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
The incident reportedly occurred on Friday, November 6, 2026, in Takuti community, Lapai Local Government Area of Niger State.
The victims, aged four and nine, were said to have consumed a substance suspected to be poisonous from a cup allegedly given to them by Abdullahi.
One of the children reportedly died shortly after drinking the substance, while the other was rushed to a general hospital, where she is currently receiving treatment.
The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, SP Wasiu Abiodun, confirmed the incident in a statement issued on Saturday.
According to Abiodun, the suspect allegedly confessed to the crime, claiming that a friend influenced her to poison the children because she could not have a child for her husband.
The police statement read: “On 6th November, 2026 at about 6am, a report was received in Lapai Div that one Mariya Abdullahi of Takuti via Lapai administered some substance suspected to be poison to the children of her co-wife.
“The Police operatives moved to the scene, discovered the two children who were 9 & 4yrs, were given the substance to drink, and as a result, they became unconscious.
“They were immediately rushed to a nearby clinic, but on arrival at the clinic, one of the victims gave up the ghost and the other was referred to the general hospital responding to the treatment.
“The suspect was arrested, undergoing further interrogation. She claimed that she was influenced by a friend to commit the act because she couldn’t bear a child for the husband.
“She will soon be transferred to SCID Minna for diligent prosecution.”
The command added that Abdullahi would be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) in Minna for further investigation and prosecution.
Crime
‘Please Forgive Us’ – Suspects in Corps Members’ Abduction Plead For Mercy.
Two men standing trial over the abduction of 20 prospective members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) in Imo State have admitted that they voluntarily made the written and recorded confessional statements presented by the Department of State Services (DSS).....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
The defendants, Usman Aliyu and Babangida Aliyu, who are the first and second accused persons, made the admission on Thursday during cross-examination at the resumed hearing of the case.
Both men confirmed that they willingly gave the audio-visual statements and thumbprinted the written confessions in the presence of their lawyers.
The DSS had tendered the statements as evidence, and the court admitted them during the proceedings.
Despite confirming the statements, the defendants appealed to the court for forgiveness and asked to be released. They had earlier made a similar plea while opening their defence and giving evidence on their own behalf.
The two men are facing charges bordering on conspiracy, hostage-taking and unlawful possession of firearms over the alleged abduction.
Meanwhile, proceedings also continued in a separate case involving two defendants accused of conspiracy, kidnapping and unlawful possession of firearms.
During the hearing, a prosecution witness identified the defendants as the individuals who allegedly abducted him for ransom in Imo State on October 4, 2026.
At the end of Thursday’s proceedings, Justice Emeka Orafu adjourned both cases until November 6 for further hearing.
Crime
BREAKING: FBI Nabs Six Most-Wanted Fraud Suspects In Major International Crackdown.
The United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has arrested six individuals on its most-wanted fraudsters list following operations conducted across four continents.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
The suspects were apprehended over allegations involving various fraudulent activities, according to FBI Director Kash Patel, who announced the development in a post on X on Sunday.
Patel disclosed that the arrests, alongside other enforcement operations, contributed to the seizure of assets worth approximately $17 billion.
He praised the FBI’s international fugitive-tracking efforts and its ongoing campaign against global scam centres, known as Operation Blackout.
According to the FBI director, the six fugitives had collectively spent more than 4,000 days evading arrest.
Patel said the suspects had apparently believed that leaving the United States and going into hiding abroad would place them beyond the reach of American law enforcement authorities.
“They were wrong,” he wrote, stressing that the FBI and its international partners would continue pursuing individuals accused of defrauding Americans, regardless of where they attempted to hide.
In a separate update on Operation Blackout, Patel revealed that the broader campaign had resulted in the seizure of nearly $17 billion, the arrest of hundreds of suspected fraudsters and the rescue of thousands of trafficked workers.
The operation has also involved raids on suspected scam centres, the disruption of online infrastructure used to facilitate fraudulent activities and efforts to identify individuals trafficked into working for criminal networks.
Patel further disclosed that more than 10,000 Americans had received warnings before losing their money, helping to prevent estimated financial losses of about $670 million.
“We’re not just investigating these criminal enterprises.
“We’re dismantling their networks, disrupting their finances, rescuing victims, and holding those responsible accountable,” he said.
The FBI director described the scam centres as criminal enterprises that exploit vulnerable individuals while targeting Americans through international fraud schemes.
He maintained that the agency would continue its efforts to bring those responsible to justice.
“To every criminal organization targeting Americans: Justice will find you,” Patel added.
Full List Of The Six Arrested Suspects
According to the FBI, the individuals arrested are:
- Manjit Singh Bedi
- Elaine Agene Esco
- Khalid Ahmed Satary
- Herbert Leon Kimble
- Sahid Abdullahi Ereg
- Emylee Thai
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