The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Lagos Zonal Directorate has secured the conviction and sentence of four internet fraudsters before Justice Dehinde Dipeolu of the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos.
The convicts, Martins Emmanuel, Abeeb Olamide Asiru, Iremide Owolabi and Quadri Abdulrasheed Adio, were arrested on August 29, 2025 in a sting operation at Mambillah Hotel, Ikorodu, Lagos, following credible intelligence received by the Commission on the activities of a syndicate of suspected internet fraudsters operating at the hotel.
This was disclosed in a statement by the EFCC and shared on its Facebook page on Thursday.
According to the statement, they were subsequently arraigned on one-count separate charges bordering on fraudulent impersonation and internet related crimes.
The count charges read, “That you, ABEEB OLAMIDE ASIRU (a.k.a Dolly Parton), on or about 29th August, 2025 in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, fraudulently impersonated one ‘Dolly Parton’ 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 when they were read to them.
In view of their pleas, prosecution counsel, H.U. Kofarnaisa, reviewed the facts of the case through the investigating officers, Ibrahim Bukar, Samson Aguma and Ruth Odang.
Kofarnaisa, thereafter, tendered the defendants’ statements and mobile devices recovered from them.
READ ALSO: Court Jails Fake Investor for $71,000 Fraud
She also urged the court to convict them as charged.
Justice Dipeolu, consequently, convicted and sentenced Emmanuel to three months imprisonment, with the option of a fine of N600,000.00.
The Judge also convicted and sentenced Asiru to six months imprisonment, with the option of a fine of N2,000,000.00.
Both Owolabi and Adio were each sentenced to three months imprisonment, with the option of a fine of N800,000.00.
Their mobile devices were ordered forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria.
