posted 28th May 2025
Three Internet Fraudsters Jailed for One Year in Lagos
In a significant victory for Nigeria’s anti-cybercrime efforts, the Lagos Zonal Directorate 1 of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has secured the conviction and sentencing of three individuals for internet fraud. Orizowe Omogbor Anointing, Lawal Olaitan, and Tella Damilola Adebayo were each sentenced to one year in prison by Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke at the Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos, on Wednesday, 28 May 2025.
The trio faced separate one-count charges of fraudulently impersonating US citizens, an offence under Section 22(2)(b) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc) Act, 2015. Anointing, who operated under the alias "Nicholas Dewell," was specifically charged with using a fraudulent Facebook account to deceive victims for personal gain. All three pleaded guilty to the charges brought against them.
During the proceedings, EFCC prosecutors Bilkisu Buhari and Z.B. Atiku presented evidence through investigating officers Nwike Fortune, Akojemi Emmanuel, and Adamu Usman Turaki. The officers confirmed that the defendants were apprehended by EFCC operatives, with incriminating documents recovered from their devices. Notably, Anointing’s arrest led to the seizure of a Lexus RX 350 vehicle, cash, and additional fraudulent materials. The court was also informed that the defendants provided confessional statements on 19 and 20 May 2025.
Justice Aneke admitted the defendants’ extra-judicial statements, fraudulent documents, and recovered items as evidence. In his ruling, he sentenced each convict to one year in prison, with Anointing and Olaitan given the option to pay a fine of N500,000 each, while Tella could opt for a N1,250,000 fine. The court further ordered the forfeiture of the defendants’ mobile devices, vehicles, and recovered funds to the Federal Government of Nigeria. Additionally, each convict was mandated to complete 100 hours of community service.
The EFCC’s successful prosecution underscores its ongoing commitment to tackling cybercrime in Nigeria, with the agency continuing to clamp down on internet fraud, commonly known as "yahoo-yahoo." The convicts were initially detained at a Correctional Centre following their arrests before being charged and convicted.
