By Nkechi Eze
Two internet fraudsters arrested during a sting operation near the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL) in Abeokuta have been convicted and sentenced by the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos.
According to a statement by the spokesperson of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Dele Oyewale, Olugbodi Adefolarin Pamilerin and Adenuga Ezekiel Oluwaseyi were among 93 suspects apprehended during an anti-fraud operation conducted on Sunday, 10 August 2025, at a hotel in the OOPL precinct. They were arraigned before Justice D.I. Dipeolu on separate two-count charges bordering on criminal impersonation and retention of proceeds of crime.
Pamilerin, according to the EFCC, had posed online as one “Emily Eddins” via his Telegram account in order to deceive unsuspecting victims and fraudulently obtain money from them. He also retained $160 which was confirmed as proceeds of his criminal activities. Oluwaseyi similarly posed as a woman using two Gmail accounts synderlaureen909@gmail.com and antonyeagle879@gmail.com to lure members of the public, from whom he fraudulently obtained the sum of $1,000.
Both defendants pleaded guilty to all the charges when they were read before the court.
Following their pleas, the prosecution counsel, Franklin Ofoma, called two EFCC investigative officers, Eze Chijioke and Bamanga Mohammed, to review the facts of the case. The court admitted as evidence the defendants’ extra-judicial statements, Pamilerin’s iPhone 14 and N150,000 bank draft paid in restitution, as well as Oluwaseyi’s iPhone 15 Pro Max, iPhone 6S and a N1,000,000 restitution bank draft. Forensic printed documents recovered from the devices were also tendered.
Delivering judgement, Justice Dipeolu held that the prosecution had proved its case beyond reasonable doubt. The court sentenced Olugbodi Adefolarin Pamilerin to one month imprisonment with an option of ₦500,000 fine, and ordered the forfeiture of his iPhone 14 to the Federal Government.
Adenuga Ezekiel Oluwaseyi was sentenced to three months imprisonment with an option of ₦2,000,000 fine. The court also directed that his iPhone 15 Pro Max, iPhone 6S, and the ₦1million restitution bank draft be forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria.
The EFCC noted that the convictions further demonstrate its resolve to rid the country of internet fraud and other forms of economic and financial crime.
