The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had arraigned the convicts — Peng Li Huan, Zhang Jin Rong, He Kun, Rachelle Cabalona, Caselyn Pionela, Guo Long Long, and Zhang Hua Zhai — before Justices Ayokunle Faji, Chukwujekwu Aneke, and Yellim Bogoro in separate proceedings.

According to the EFCC’s prosecution team comprising Bilkisu Buhari-Bala, Chineye Okezie, and Banjo Temitope, the convicts entered into plea bargain agreements, which were submitted to the court on June 20, 2025.

At the respective arraignments, the defendants pleaded guilty and confirmed to the court that they had willingly entered the plea bargain deals.

Subsequently, the court convicted and sentenced each of the defendants to one year in prison and imposed a fine of N1 million on each individual.

In addition, the court ordered the Nigerian Immigration Service to facilitate their deportation within seven days of completing their prison terms.

The convicted foreign nationals were apprehended in a December 2024 raid by EFCC operatives on a building along Oyin Jolayemi Street in Victoria Island, Lagos, where over 700 suspects linked to a cyber fraud syndicate were arrested.

The EFCC Lagos Zonal Directorate 1 charged the defendants with separate one-count offences bordering on cyberterrorism and internet fraud.

The charge read in court stated that the defendants “willfully accessed computer systems organized to destabilize and destroy the fundamental economic and social structure of Nigeria by recruiting Nigerian youths to commit identity theft and impersonate foreign nationals for financial gain.”

The offences contravene Section 18 of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2015 (as amended in 2024), and Section 2(3)(d) of the Terrorism (Prevention, Prohibition) Act, 2022.

The EFCC described the convictions as a major milestone in the ongoing war against cross-border cybercrime in Nigeria.

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The Kaduna Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned Audu Ishida, also known as Baddie Kylemilli, for internet fraud.

The charges against Ishida include impersonation, retention of proceeds from crime, and money laundering.

According to a statement by Dele Oyewale, Head of Media & Publicity at the EFCC, Ishida faces a one-count charge before Justice Hauwa’u Buhari of the Federal High Court in Kaduna. The charge alleges that on June 2, 2024, in Jos, Ishida retained $50 from a victim, knowing it was derived from an unlawful act.

This offense violates Section 20(a) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, and is punishable under Section 20(b) of the same Act.

Ishida pleaded “not guilty” to the charge. Consequently, prosecution counsel M.E. Eimonye requested a trial date and for Ishida to be remanded in the custody of the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCS). Defence counsel Umar Usman did not oppose the remand.

Justice Buhari ordered Ishida to be held at the Nigerian Correctional Centre in Kaduna and set the trial to commence on November 7, 2024.

Ishida’s arrest followed an intelligence-driven raid by EFCC operatives on internet fraud rings in Jos.

Investigations revealed that Ishida created fraudulent online content and dating sites to deceive victims.

The proceeds from his crimes, obtained via gift cards and traded through an FSS card app, were converted to naira and deposited into his bank accounts.

The post EFCC Charges Fake Content Creator with Internet Fraud in Jos first appeared on MegaIcon Magazine.

The post EFCC Charges Fake Content Creator with Internet Fraud in Jos appeared first on MegaIcon Magazine.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has fulfilled its commitment to justice by handing over $22,000 recovered from a convicted internet fraudster, Hakeem Olanrewaju, to the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI).

In a statement released on Saturday, EFCC spokesperson, Dele Oyewale announced that the handover took place on Friday in Lagos State.

“We are delighted to be handing over this proceeds of crime today,” remarked the Acting Director of the EFCC Lagos Zonal Command, Michael Wetkas. “The EFCC is willing and always ready to do more.”

At the handover event, FBI’s Legal Attaché Charles Smith praised the EFCC for its collaborative efforts.

“The EFCC and FBI work collaboratively together, and it is thanks to the EFCC that we can recover funds of this nature, especially from Business Email Compromise, BEC,” stated Smith.

“This type of crime cripples businesses in the US, and for them to recover the money within one to two years gives hope to the affected companies and brings some level of justice, even if not all subjects have been identified.”

Smith expressed hope for continued cooperation between the two agencies, emphasising the FBI’s readiness to support investigations.

Justice Nicholas Oweibo of the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos, had previously ordered the restitution of the recovered money to Olanrewaju’s victim in the US.

Olanrewaju was sentenced to two years imprisonment for identity theft and impersonation on August 15, 2023.

The post EFCC Hands Over $22,000 Recovered from Convicted Internet Fraudster to FBI first appeared on MegaIcon Magazine.

The post EFCC Hands Over $22,000 Recovered from Convicted Internet Fraudster to FBI appeared first on MegaIcon Magazine.

Investigators of the Ibadan Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, made a significant breakthrough on Wednesday, as they apprehended sixty-four suspected internet fraudsters in Osun State.

The crackdown targeted Ede, Osun State, where the suspects were allegedly engaging in various fraudulent activities.

According to Dele Oyewale, the Head of Media & Publicity for the EFCC, the arrests followed actionable intelligence gathered by the agency.

Among the items seized during the operation were 18 exotic vehicles, 18 laptops, 112 mobile phones, three PlayStation games, five motorcycles, and a trove of incriminating documents.

These seizures underscore the scale and sophistication of the suspected cybercriminals’ operations.

The EFCC stated that the suspects will face legal proceedings once investigations are concluded.

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The Nasarawa State Police Command said it has busted a hideout belonging to suspected internet fraudsters.

DSP Ramhan Nansel, the Public Relations Officer, shared in a press release that the arrest of 10 suspects took place during a raid conducted by police operatives from the Angwan Lambu Division.

The cybercriminals’ hideout, located in the Government Reserved Area, Keffi, was targeted following extensive police efforts, resulting in the apprehension of 10 individuals involved in internet fraud, commonly known as Yahoo Plus.

Among the items seized were two laptops, 10 sophisticated mobile phones of different brands, three WIFI routers, criminal charms, black soap, and illegal substances such as Loud weed and dried leaves suspected to be marijuana.

The suspects admitted their involvement in internet fraud, as outlined in the press release. The authorities plan to charge them to court for prosecution once the investigation is concluded.

Commending the officers for their exemplary work, Commissioner of Police Umar Shehu Nadada urged them to sustain efforts in raiding criminal hideouts.

The post Nasarawa: Police Bust Suspected Internet Fraudsters’ Hideout, Arrest 10 first appeared on MegaIcon Magazine.

The post Nasarawa: Police Bust Suspected Internet Fraudsters’ Hideout, Arrest 10 appeared first on MegaIcon Magazine.

In a recent meeting with representatives of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), Olukoyede stressed the importance of broader media awareness among youths to combat the menace of internet fraud.

He pointed to reports and intelligence indicating that unless the current trend of youth involvement in cybercrimes is addressed and reversed, it could pose a threat to the future leadership of the nation.

According to a statement by the commission’s Head of Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale, contrary to reports, the EFCC boss did not assert that “seven out of 10” Nigerian students are criminals.

Oyewale added that “His primary focus is on disrupting the pattern of widespread youth engagement in cybercrimes”.

The EFCC further assured the public that Olukoyede is dedicated to the advancement of Nigerian youths, underscoring his call for collaborative interventions to provide them with more productive and sustainable alternatives.

The post EFCC Chief Expresses Concern Over Surging Youth Participation in Internet Fraud first appeared on MegaIcon Magazine.

The post EFCC Chief Expresses Concern Over Surging Youth Participation in Internet Fraud appeared first on MegaIcon Magazine.

The convictions were pronounced by Justices Ladiran Akintola, Adebukola Olajide, and M.O. Ishola of the Oyo State High Court, Ibadan; Justice B.B. Adebowale of the Ogun State High Court in Abeokuta; and Justice Uche Agomoh of the Federal High Court in Ibadan, Oyo State. The individuals faced one-count separate charges related to cybercrimes.

The list of the convicted includes Amos Temitope Taiwo, Fatai Habeeb Mayowa, Lateef Aremu, Abiona Itunuoluwa Solomon, Olamijulo Abiodun Kayode, Abulele Endurance Ogbemudia, Owolade Shamsudeen Ayoola, Odesanya Micheal Adedimeji, Oyedele Isreal Sunday, John Timileyin Olasupo, Toriola Yusuf Alabi, Nafiu Wariz Ayomide, Adewale Adeyemi Fasasi Mumeen, Azeez Faruk Olanrewaju, Olamilekan Samuel Olonitola, Okeke Hycent Obinna, Quzeem Opeyemi Tajudeen, Theophilus Iroboudu Onoapor, and Olanrewaju Muhammed Opeyemi.

Others include Oladokun Abeeb Olaide, Precious Akinwale Balogun, Adebari Sodiq Wemimo, Ogunleye Ridwan Babatunde, Akinrinola Emmanuel Pelumi, Odigwe Victory Okwise, Seyitan David Ojo, Oyinwola Micheal Olakunle, Adewale Ibrahim Adegoke, Odunton Durojaiye Oluwaseyi, Opaleye Ramadan Olanrewaju, Tolulope Adedoyin Asekoni, Oyewole Gideon David, and Asogbon Emmanuel Tobiloba.

The lone-count separate charge reads: “That you, Opaleye Ramadan Olanrewaju ‘M’ on or about 4th February 2020, at Ibadan, within the jurisdiction of tuhis Honourable Court, with intent to defraud one Micheal via your Instagram account Catherine falsely represented yourself as Catherine a white woman from the United States of America which representation you knew to be false, thereby committed the offence of Personation contrary to Section 484 of the Criminal Code Law Cap 38, Laws of Oyo State, 2000.”

All the accused pleaded “guilty” to the charge.

Prosecution counsel presented facts and indicting documents, urging the courts to convict and sentence the defendants. The Justices, having considered both parties’ prayers, convicted and sentenced the defendants accordingly.

Taiwo received eighteen months imprisonment, and Olasupo and Babatunde one-year jail terms each. Aremu, Solomon, Adedimeji, Sunday, Alabi, Ayomide, Mumeen, Olanrewaju, Olonitola, Obinna, Tajudeen, Onoapor, Opeyemi, Wemimo, Pelumi, Okwise, Olakunle, Adegoke, Oluwaseyi, Olanrewaju, Asekoni, David, and Tobiloba were assigned six months of community service each.

Mayowa received eight months of community service, while Kayode, Ogbemudia, Olaide, Balogun, and Ojo received three months of community service each. Ayoola was sentenced to two months of community service.

The courts mandated the convicts to restitute their victims and forfeit all recovered items to the Federal Government of Nigeria, including eight exotic vehicles.

All 33 convicts began their journey to the Correctional Centre upon arrest in various locations in Oyo and Ogun states by EFCC operatives. Subsequent investigations revealed their involvement in diverse cases of internet-related crimes, leading to their subsequent court charges and convictions.
 

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The other suspects arrested include: Saheed Olatunji, Bandele Olarewaju John, Yusuf Akinkunmi Azeez, Fuja Quoreeb Oluwadamilare, Odueso Oluwole Ezekiel and Akinade Teslim

They were arrested at Main Stay Hotel, Akala Express area of Ibadan, Oyo State.

The operation followed series of intelligence report linking them with alleged fraudulent activities ranging from love scam on numerous dating sites, obtaining money by false pretenses and other fraud still being investigated.

One car, phones, laptops, several incriminating documents were recovered from the suspects.

They will be charged to court as soon as investigations are concluded.

The post EFCC arrests IT expert, six other suspected internet fraudsters in Ibadan first appeared on MegaIcon Magazine.

The post EFCC arrests IT expert, six other suspected internet fraudsters in Ibadan appeared first on MegaIcon Magazine.

Justice Mohammed Abubakar of the Federal High Court sitting in Abeokuta convicted Balogun Mojeed, Adeyemo Adeyinka Samuel, Mojeed Tajudeen Oluwafemi, Babatunde Damilare Odetunde and Opeyemi Jamiu after finding them guilty of separate amended one count charge bordering on impersonation contrary to Section 22 (20) (b) (i) and punishable under Section 22(2) (b) of the Cyber Crimes (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc.) Act, 2015.

While Balogun Mojeed and Adeyemo Adeyinka Samuel were sentenced to two months in prison; Mojeed Tajudeen Oluwafemi and Babatunde Damilare Odetunde bagged three months imprisonment, and Opeyemi Jamiu, four months.

The Court also ordered them to make restitution to their victims and forfeit items recovered from them in the course of the investigation to the Federal Government of Nigeria.

Similarly, Justice I. S. Yerima of the Oyo State High Court, sitting in Ibadan convicted and sentenced one Azeez Olanrewaju Salami to nine months in prison on an amended charge bordering on cheating, contrary to Section 421 of the Criminal Code Cap 38, Laws of Oyo State 2000, after entering into a plea bargain agreement with the Commission.

He was also ordered to restitute the sum of N1, 368,000.00 Naira (One Million, Three Hundred and Sixty-Eight Thousand Naira) to his victim.

The post Photos: Abeokuta Court Jails Six for Internet Fraud first appeared on MegaIcon Magazine.

The post Photos: Abeokuta Court Jails Six for Internet Fraud appeared first on MegaIcon Magazine.

Justice Nathaniel Ayo-Emmanuel of the Federal High Court sitting in Osogbo, Osun State pronounced the 32-year-old, who claimed to be a graduate of civil engineering, guilty of a one-count amended charge of criminal impersonation on Monday, and handed him fourteen months custodial sentence.

The crime offends Section 22(2) (b) (ii) of the Cyber Crimes (Prohibition, Prevention Etc) Act, 2015 and punishable under Section 22 (2) of the same Act.

He was charged for defrauding one Warren Doht, an American, of a total sum of N19,664,128.50 (Nineteen Million, Six Hundred and Sixty Four Thousand, One Hundred and Twenty Eight Naira, Fifty Kobo).

The convict had, however, approached the Commission for a plea bargain agreement which formed the basis for the amended charge with which he was arraigned and convicted of on Monday.

After pleading guilty to the amended charge, prosecution counsel Murtala Usman urged the court to convict him accordingly.

Apart from the jail term, the court also ordered Oteyowo to restitute the N19,664,128.50 to the victim of his crime.

The post Osogbo: 32-year-old Man Jailed 14 Months for Defrauding American of N19.6m first appeared on MegaIcon Magazine.

The post Osogbo: 32-year-old Man Jailed 14 Months for Defrauding American of N19.6m appeared first on MegaIcon Magazine.