Court Convicts Four Internet Fraudsters Arrested at OOPL Hotel

The Federal High Court in Lagos has convicted four internet fraudsters arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) during a sting operation at a hotel located within the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL) complex in Abeokuta, Ogun State.

Vacation judge, Justice Deinde Dipeolu, handed down the convictions after the defendants pleaded guilty to cybercrime-related charges. A fifth suspect, however, pleaded not guilty and was remanded pending trial.

The convicts—Ibrahim Azeez Olatunji, Isaac Akinwale, Habeeb Oladipupo Oshundairo, and Bisiriyu Roqeeb Abiodun—were among 93 suspects arrested by EFCC operatives on August 10 during a pool party allegedly organised to celebrate fraudulent activities. While the commission had earlier announced plans to arraign 23 suspects, only 21 were produced in court on Friday, with Justice Dipeolu able to hear five cases due to time constraints.

Olatunji, who impersonated “Camila” through a Google account, received a one-month jail term with an option of a ₦500,000 fine. Akinwale, who posed online as “Monica” and “Daisy” and defrauded a victim of $500, was sentenced to three months’ imprisonment or a ₦1 million fine. The court also ordered the forfeiture of a 2017 Toyota Camry, two mobile phones and ₦400,000 restitution linked to his case.

Oshundairo admitted to impersonation and retaining ₦600,000 in criminal proceeds, which he refunded. He was sentenced to 30 days of community service in Ogun State and ordered to carry a placard reading “Cybercrime Does Not Pay” during supervised hours.

Abiodun, who posed as “Sharon” a white American woman, to defraud a U.S. victim of $200, was sentenced to one month in prison with a ₦500,000 fine option. A Samsung Galaxy S20 and ₦200,000 restitution were forfeited to the Federal Government.

The fifth defendant, Onunoye Fawas Olamilekan, accused of impersonating “Nurse Becky” on Facebook and retaining $50 in fraud proceeds, pleaded not guilty. His lawyer challenged the charges, but the judge ordered his remand at Ikoyi Correctional Centre, with trial scheduled for October 31, 2025.