A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos has sentenced three individuals—Omueti Favour Akhigbe, Asa Oluwapelumi, and Olusoga Marvellous—to varying jail terms for impersonation and cybercrime.
Justice A.O. Owoeye delivered the judgment after the trio pleaded guilty to charges filed against them by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) under the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2015.
According to Dele Oyewale, Head of Media and Publicity for the EFCC, the convicts were part of an Organized Cybercrime Syndicate Network (OCSN) operating in Lagos. They were apprehended during a raid on their apartments, during which several cars, electronic devices, and other items were recovered.
EFCC prosecutor, Bilkisu Buhari-Bala, called investigator Seidu Jibril to review the case facts before the court. Jibril revealed that the defendants had impersonated different individuals online to defraud others.
He explained, “The suspects were members of an Organized Cybercrime Syndicate Network, OCSN, operating in different parts of Lagos State. A team of operatives raided their apartments, where they were arrested. A search was conducted in their apartments, and several cars as well as devices were recovered from them.”
Akhigbe impersonated one Tracy Barbour, Oluwapelumi posed as Harsharvin, and Marvellous operated under the alias John Heately. They pleaded guilty to the charges, prompting the court to convict them as charged.
Justice Owoeye sentenced Akhigbe to two years imprisonment with an option of a N350,000 fine. Additionally, his iPhone and a manager’s cheque for N500,000 were forfeited to the Federal Government. Oluwapelumi was sentenced to two years imprisonment or a fine of N550,000. His iPhone 15 and HP laptop were also forfeited.
Marvellous received the heaviest sentence of five years imprisonment with an option of a N600,000 fine. The court ordered the forfeiture of his black Toyota Camry, iPhone 14 Pro Max, and Samsung Galaxy S8 to the Federal Government.
Oyewale confirmed the conviction in a press release issued on December 23, 2024. “The EFCC will continue its fight against cybercrime to deter others from engaging in similar activities,” he stated.
