By Nkechi Eze
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned three men before the Federal High Court in Abuja for allegedly impersonating popular Nigerian blogger and influencer, Tunde Ednut, to defraud unsuspecting members of the public of N18.2 million.
The defendants, Raymond Charles Yafetus, Auwal Ibrahim and Babangida Yahaya Ibrahim, were arraigned on Thursday, October 15, 2026, before Justice S. O. Ibrahim on a three-count charge bordering on cybercrime, conspiracy to commit fraud, impersonation and obtaining money by false pretence.
According to an official statement signed by the EFCC Head of Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale, the defendants allegedly obtained N18,264,700 between April and June 2026 by fraudulently assuming the identity of Adekunle Tunde Olaoluwa, popularly known as Tunde Ednut.
The commission alleged that the defendants used the assumed identity to open bank accounts in different financial institutions across Nigeria and received money from unsuspecting members of the public.
One of the charges stated that the alleged offences contravened Section 22(2)(b)(ii) of the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2015, and were punishable under Section 22(2)(b)(iv) of the same Act.
The defendants, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges when they were read to them in court.
Following their pleas, prosecution counsel, Elizabeth Alabi, urged the court to fix a date for trial and order the remand of the defendants at the Kuje Correctional Centre, Abuja.
Justice Ibrahim subsequently ordered their remand at the correctional facility and adjourned the case until November 17, 2026, for further proceedings.
