By Nkechi Eze
Justice Yellim Bogoro of the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos, on Friday, May 30, 2025, convicted and sentenced one Adenuga Elijah to one year imprisonment for internet fraud.
Dele Oyewale the commission’s spokesperson in an official signed statement made available to Newspeg disclosed that he was arraigned by the Lagos Zonal Directorate 2 of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on a one -count charge bordering on impersonation and cybercrimes.
The count reads: “ That you, ADENUGA ELIJAH OLUWADAMILARE, (Male) on the 12th day of November, 2024 in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, fraudulently held out yourself on GOOGLE as Pearl Xavier, with intention to gain advantage for yourself and you thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 22 of the Cybercrimes (prohibition etc) Act, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2015.”
He pleaded “guilty” to the charge when it was read to him.
Following his guilty plea, prosecution counsel, Abdulhamid L.Tukur, called on Adams Adze , an operative of the EFCC, to review the facts of the matter.
Adze told the court that the defendant was arrested sometime in November , 2024, following credible intelligence received by the Commission on the activities of a syndicate of internet fraudsters operating in the Lekki area of Lagos State.
He also stated that an iPhone 12 Pro Max and HP laptop computer were recovered from him at the point of arrest.
“Upon his arrest, he was duly processed and the defendant volunteered his statements. Investigations were conducted and forensic evidence was printed out from his phone. In his statement, he confessed he was into a dating scam and that he had benefited the sum of $200 (Two Hundred United States Dollars),” he further told the court.
Continuing, Adze informed the court that the defendant had made restitution of N200,000 (Two Hundred Thousand Naira) via a bank draft.
Tukur, thereafter, sought to tender, in evidence, the defendant’s extrajudicial statements, iPhone, HP laptop computer and forensic investigation document print out.
They were admitted as exhibits by the court.
The defendant prayed the court for leniency, adding , “I have started a business and also registered in a polytechnic to further my education”,
Justice Bogoro convicted and sentenced the defendant to one year imprisonment, with an option of fine of N200,000( Two Hundred Thousand Naira).
The Judge also ordered that the bank draft, mobile phone and HP Laptop be forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria.
The convict bagged his imprisonment when he was arrested for internet fraud. He was thereafter charged to court and convicted.
