OOPL hotel raid: Court jails three, remands one over cybercrime

The Federal High Court sitting in Lagos on Friday convicted three internet fraudsters who admitted to cybercrime-related offences, while ordering the remand of a fourth defendant who pleaded not guilty.

Justice Dehinde Dipeolu delivered the verdict after the convicts pleaded guilty to the offences.

The convicts — Isaac Akinwale, Ibrahim Azeez Olatunji, and Habeeb Oladipupo Oshundairo — were among 93 suspects apprehended during a raid by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission at a hotel within the premises of the former President Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library complex in Abeokuta, Ogun State.

They faced multiple charges bordering on false pretence, identity theft, and obtaining money under false pretence, contrary to the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2015, and the EFCC Act, 2004.

At the proceedings, EFCC operative Umar Shuaibu told the court that “Akinwale posed online as a woman to run a celebrity scam, defrauding a victim of $500.”

Prosecuting counsel Franklin Ofoma tendered a 2007 Toyota Camry, a Galaxy phone, and a bank draft of N400,000 as exhibits.

Justice Dipeolu sentenced Akinwale to three months in prison or a N1 million fine.

Olatunji received one month in prison or a N500,000 fine for a romance scam.

Oshundairo was ordered to perform 30 days of community service, including carrying a banner that read: “Cybercrime Does Not Pay. Stay Away from Cybercrime.”

He was convicted on two counts of impersonation and retaining N600,000 in criminal proceeds.

Meanwhile, the fourth defendant, Onunoye Fawas Olamilekan, denied allegations that he posed as “Nurse Becky” on Facebook and retained $50 obtained through fraud.

His lawyer challenged the validity of the charges, arguing that the cited section of the Cybercrimes Act did not exist.

However, Justice Dipeolu remanded him in the Ikoyi Correctional Centre pending trial on October 31, 2025.

The EFCC told the court that Akinwale, sometime in 2025, fraudulently pretended on his WhatsApp account — as “Monica” and “Daisy” — to unsuspecting members of the public, with intent to gain advantage for himself.

Oshundairo was also accused of fraudulently giving out his Gmail account (perezdavis2377@gmail.com) to unsuspecting members of the public as an expert in service certificates and internal revenue preparation, with intent to gain advantage for himself.

The commission also said that Olamilekan, sometime in 2025, fraudulently presented himself as “Nurse Becky” on his Facebook account (joypitard86@gmail.com) to unsuspecting members of the public, with intent to gain an advantage for himself.