The Lagos Zonal Directorate 1 of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has secured the conviction and sentence of three internet fraudsters to one year imprisonment each before Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke of the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos.
The convicts, Orizowe Omogbor Anointing, Lawal Olaitan and Tella Damilola Adebayo, were arraigned on Wednesday, May 28, 2025 on a one-count separate charges of fraudulently impersonating US citizens.
One of the charges reads: “That you, ORIZOWE OMOGBOR ANOINTING (a.k.a Nicholas Dewell), on or about the 20th day of May, 2025 in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, fraudulently impersonated one 'Nicholas Dewell' by holding yourself out as such on your Facebook account with intent to gain advantage for yourself and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 22(2) (b) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc) Act, 2015.”
They each pleaded guilty to the charges preferred against them.
In view of their pleas, prosecution counsel, Bilkisu Buhari and Z.B. Atiku, respectively, reviewed the facts of the cases through the investigating officers, Nwike Fortune, Akojemi Emmanuel and Adamu Usman Turaki, who told the court that the defendants were arrested by operatives of the EFCC and that fraudulent documents were printed from their devices.
Specifically, Fortune, in his review of the facts, stated that the defendants made confessional statements dated May 19 and 20, 2025.
He also stated that several incriminating documents, cash and a Lexus RX 350 were recovered from Anointing.
Buhari, thereafter, prayed the court to admit, in evidence, the defendants’ extra-judicial statements, fraudulent documents printed from their devices as well as the money and vehicle recovered from them.
Consequently, Justice Aneke convicted and sentenced the defendants to one year imprisonment each.
While Anointing and Olaitan got options of fine in the sum of N500,000, (Five Hundred Thousand Naira), Tella was given an option of fine of N1, 250, 000 (One Million, Two Hundred and fifty Thousand Naira).
Their mobile devices, vehicles as well as money recovered from them were ordered forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria.
The judge also ordered each of the convicts to serve 100 hours of community service.
All the convicts made their ways to the Correctional Centre when they were arrested by operatives of the EFCC for internet fraud. They were charged to court and convicted.
Media & Publicity
May 28, 2025
