From Sola Ojo, Abuja
Justice Yellim Bogoro of the Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos, on Friday, May 30, convicted and sentenced Adenuga Elijah Oluwadamilare to one year in prison for internet fraud, as announced by EFCC Spokesman Dele Oyewale on Monday, June 2.
The Lagos Zonal Directorate 2 of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) arraigned Adenuga on a single-count charge of impersonation and cybercrimes. The charge read:
“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, Prevention, etc.) Act, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2015.”
Adenuga pleaded “guilty” when the charge was read. Prosecution counsel Abdulhamid L. Tukur called EFCC operative Adams Adze to review the case facts. Adze stated that Adenuga was arrested in November 2024 in Lekki, Lagos, following intelligence on a syndicate of internet fraudsters. An iPhone 12 Pro Max and an HP laptop were recovered from him.
Adze added, “In his statement, he confessed he was into a dating scam and had benefited the sum of $200 (Two Hundred United States Dollars).” Forensic evidence from his phone confirmed the scam, and Adenuga made restitution of N200,000 via a bank draft.
Tukur tendered Adenuga’s extrajudicial statements, iPhone, HP laptop, and forensic printouts, which were admitted as exhibits. Adenuga sought leniency, stating, “I have started a business and also registered in a polytechnic to further my education.”
Justice Bogoro sentenced him to one year in prison with an option of a N200,000 fine. The court ordered the forfeiture of the bank draft, iPhone, and HP laptop to the Federal Government of Nigeria.