Court convicts 4 internet fraudsters nabbed at Obasanjo library

The Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos State, on Friday, August 15, 2025, convicted and sentenced four internet fraudsters arrested by Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The convicts – Bisiriyu Roqeeb Abiodun, Ibrahim Azeez Olatunji, Akinwale Isaac, and Habeeb Oladipupo Oshundairo – were among the 93 suspected fraudsters arrested in a sting operation at a hotel within the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library in Abeokuta, the capital of Ogun State.

They were arraigned on Friday on separate charges bordering on impersonation, identify and internet fraud.

The charge against Abiodun reads: “ That you, Bisiriyu Roqeeb Abiodun (a.k.a ‘Sharon’) sometime in August, 2025 within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, had in your possession a ‘Zangi’ Account no: 1037375804 wherein you fraudulently represented yourself as ‘Sharon’ a White American Female to one Cinton from Knoxville Tennessee through your ‘Zangi’ account which is connected to your Samsung Galazy S20 with no: 09070156448 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(2) -(b) (iv) of the same law.”

The defendants pleaded “guilty” to the charges preferred against them.

Following their guilty pleas, the prosecution counsel, Franklin Ofoma and S.M. Yabo, called the investigative officers, Bamanga Mohammed, Umar Shuaib, and Usman Ciroma Suleman, to review the facts of the cases.

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The prosecution counsel, thereafter, sought to tender, in evidence, the extra-judicial statements of the defendants, the mobile devices used to perpetrate the alleged crimes, forensic investigation documents printed from their devices, as well as bank drafts of restitution made by the defendants.

They were all admitted as exhibits by the court.

The presiding judge, Justice D.I. Dipeolu, in view of the defendants’ guilty pleas and evidence tendered by the prosecution, found the defendants guilty and convicted them accordingly.

The defence counsel pleaded with the judge to “temper justice with mercy,” adding that their clients were first-time offenders who have shown remorse.

Delivering judgement, Justice Dipeolu convicted and sentenced Olatunji to one month imprisonment from the date of arrest, with the option of fine of N500,000.

The judge convicted and sentenced Oshundairo, who benefited the sum of N600,000 from his criminal activities, to 30-day community service at Igbesa in Ogun State from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. to be supervised by the EFFC and the correctional centre.

Akinwale, who confessed to have benefited the sum of $500, was convicted and sentenced to three months imprisonment, with the option of fine of N1,000,000.

The judge also ordered that the iPhone 16 pro max, Galaxy Note 9, the sum of N400,000 in restitution as well as the 2017 Toyota Camry recovered from him be forfeited to the federal government.

Justice Dipeolu also convicted and sentenced Abiodun, who confessed to have benefited the sum of $200, to one month imprisonment, with the option of N500,000 fine.

The judge ordered that the Samsung Galaxy S20 and the N200,000 in restitution be forfeited to the federal government.

The Star