Lagos, Nigeria — The EFCC, Lagos Zonal Directorate 1, secured convictions for two internet fraudsters on June 4, 2025.
Justices Yellim Bogoro and Dehinde Dipeolu of the Federal High Court in Ikoyi delivered the judgments.
They arraigned each defendant on separate charges for impersonating foreigners to deceive online victims.
Olaitan falsely claimed to be “Terry Griffin,” a Japanese-born white male, using a Facebook profile to deceive others.
Similarly, Agbo faced charges of impersonation for fraudulent purposes, aiming to manipulate or deceive individuals.
One of the charges against Olaitan reads: “That you, ABDULAFEEZ OLUYIDE OLAITAN (AKA TERRY GRIFFIN), sometime in 2025, at Lagos within the jurisdiction of this Honourable court, with intent to gain advantage for yourself, did fraudulently impersonate one ‘Terry Griffin,’ a white male Asian from Japan, by holding yourself out as such to unsuspecting victims via a fraudulent profile on Facebook mobile application and you thereby committed an offence contrary to section 22(2)(b) and punishable under Section 22(2)(iv) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc.) Act, 2015.”
Both defendants immediately pleaded guilty to their respective charges when the charges were read aloud in court.
Following their pleas, prosecution counsel C.C. Okezie and B.M. Isah presented key evidence, including extrajudicial statements made by the defendants, fraudulent documents retrieved from their devices, and restitution made by Olaitan. These items were admitted as exhibits by the court.
Justice Yellim Bogoro sentenced Olaitan to one year imprisonment with an option of a fine amounting to N500,000 (Five Hundred Thousand Naira).
Similarly, Justice Dehinde Dipeolu sentenced Agbo to three months imprisonment with an option of a fine of N250,000 (Two Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira).
The court ordered the forfeiture of assets recovered during investigations, including N300,000 restitution funds, a Bitcoin wallet worth $2,600, and Olaitan’s electronic devices.
As a result, the authorities transfer these items to the Federal Government of Nigeria. This process follows all legal procedures carefully.
The EFCC reports that investigators arrested both convicts during their probe into internet fraud activities in Lagos State.
These convictions mark a significant milestone in the Commission’s ongoing effort to combat cybercrime and protect victims from fraudulent schemes.
Furthermore, the EFCC remains committed to fighting financial crimes actively.
The agency strives to serve justice effectively in cases involving cyber-related offenses, reinforcing its dedication to public safety.