Court Convicts Three Internet Fraudsters Arrested During OOPL Hotel Raid

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August 15, 2025
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•Orders ‘cybercrime does not pay’ banner punishment

Wale Igbintade

Justice Dehinde Dipeolu of the Federal High Court in Lagos on Friday convicted three internet fraudsters who pleaded guilty to various cybercrime-related offences, while a fourth defendant pleaded not guilty and was remanded in custody.

The convicts are Isaac Akinwale, Ibrahim Azeez Olatunji, and Habeeb Oladipupo Oshundairo were among 93 suspected internet fraudsters arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) at a hotel located within the premises of the former President Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL) complex in Abeokuta.

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.

During the proceedings, EFCC operative Umar Shuaibu testified that Akinwale used a false female identity to run an online celebrity scam, defrauding a victim of $500.

The prosecution, led by Franklin Ofoma, tendered as exhibits a 2007 Toyota Camry, a Galaxy phone, and a bank draft of N400,000.

Justice Dipeolu sentenced Isaac Akinwale to three months’ imprisonment or a N1 million fine, while Ibrahim Azeez Olatunji was sentenced to one month’s imprisonment or a N500,000 fine for a romance scam.

Also, Habeeb Oladipupo Oshundairo was sentenced to 30 days of community service, including carrying a banner reading: “Cybercrime Does Not Pay. Stay Away from Cybercrime”, after conviction on two counts of impersonation and retaining N600,000 in criminal proceeds.

In contrast, Onunoye Fawas Olamilekan pleaded not guilty to charges of impersonating “Nurse Becky” on Facebook and retaining $50 obtained through fraud.

His lawyer challenged the validity of the charge, arguing the cited section of the Cybercrimes Act did not exist. Justice Dipeolu ordered his remand at the Ikoyi Correctional Centre pending trial on October 31, 2025.

The charges against them reads “That you, Akinwale Isaac (Male), sometime in 2025, within the Lagos Judicial Division of the Federal High Court of Nigeria, fraudulently held out yourself on your WhatsApp account, Monica and Daisy, as a female to unsuspecting members of the public, with intent to gain advantage for yourself, thereby committing an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 22(2)(b) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, etc.) Act, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2015.

“That you, Akinwale Isaac (Male), sometime in 2025, within the Lagos Judicial Division of the Federal High Court of Nigeria, with intent to defraud, retained in your control the sum of $500, proceeds of criminal conduct deceitfully obtained from unsuspecting members of the public, thereby committing an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 17 of the EFCC Act No. 4 of 2004.

“That you, Habeeb Oladipupo Oshundairo (Male), sometime in 2025, within the Lagos Judicial Division of the Federal High Court of Nigeria, fraudulently held out yourself in your 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 yourself, thereby committing an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 22(2)(b) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, etc.) Act, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2015.

“That you, Habeeb Oladipupo Oshundairo (Male), sometime in 2025, within the Lagos Judicial Division of the Federal High Court of Nigeria, with intent to defraud, retained in your control N600,000, proceeds of criminal conduct deceitfully obtained from unsuspecting members of the public, thereby committing an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 17 of the EFCC Act No. 4 of 2004.

“That you, Onunoye Fawas Olamilekan (Male), sometime in 2025, within the Lagos Judicial Division of the Federal High Court of Nigeria, fraudulently held out yourself as “Nurse Becky” on your Facebook account (joypitard86@gmail.com) to unsuspecting members of the public, with intent to gain advantage for yourself, thereby committing an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 22(2)(b) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, etc.) Act, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2015.

“That you, Onunoye Fawas Olamilekan (Male), sometime in 2025, within the Lagos Judicial Division of the Federal High Court of Nigeria, with intent to defraud, retained in your control $50, proceeds of criminal conduct deceitfully obtained from unsuspecting members of the public, thereby committing an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 17 of the EFCC Act No. 4 of 2004.

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August 23, 2025
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INEC: Over 500,000 Nigerians Pre-register Online for CVR in Five Days

Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) yesterday, revealed that no fewer than 505,906 eligible Nigerians have pre-registered online for the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise within just five days.

The commission described the turnout as a strong indication that Nigerians remain eager to participate in the democratic process.

The electoral body added that it was impressed by the response of Nigerians who visited the online platform to pre-register.

INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, made this known in Abuja, at the official flag-off of the commission’s nationwide sensitisation campaign aimed at boosting public participation in the voter registration process.

Yakubu, who was represented by the National Commissioner, May Agbamuche-Mbu said the commission launched a vibrant roadshow that kicked off at INEC Headquarters in Maitama, passed through Banex Plaza in Wuse, and terminated at the bustling Wuse Market.

The chairman noted that similar campaigns would be held in states across the nation to further mobilise the public,

He stated: “As of midnight of August 22, 505,906 citizens have pre-registered. This is a testament that Nigerians believe in our democracy and the effort of the commission to further strengthen the electoral process.”

Yakubu said the CVR, which commenced with the online phase on August 18, 2025, would transition to the physical registration stage on Monday, August 25, 2025.

He explained that at that stage, both online pre-registrants and new applicants can complete their registration at designated INEC State and Local Government Area offices, where their biometrics would be captured.

The chairman emphasised that physical CVR would take place at 811 centres across the country, including all 774 Local Government Area offices and State offices, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Monday to Friday.

On her part the Director Voter Education and Publicity, Victoria Eta-Messi, expressed the commission’s readiness for the in-person registration across its offices nationwide.

Her words: “Our offices are ready; we have been planning before now, which is why we took a week between pre-registration and in-person registration commencement.

“So, everything is on course. From August 25, people will be attended to in our offices nationwide, 36 states and the FCT, and the 774 LGA offices of INEC from 9 am to 3 pm,” she said.

Meanwhile, the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Malam Aminu Kasimu Idris, has charged the Commission’s registration officers to maximise the training opportunity to equip their skills as the Commission expects high work ethics from them as schedule officers for the physical CVR exercise in the FCT.

The REC gave this charge yesterday, at the opening ceremony of a 2-day training on CVR for the Commission’s registration officers from the the six Area Councils and Head Office of INEC, FCT.

The Commissioner urged the registration officers to be attentive to help refresh and broaden their knowledge to carry out the national assignment they have been entrusted with in the FCT.

Also speaking, the Administrative Secretary, Mrs. Bimbo Oladunjoye, highlighted the importance of the training organised by the Commission, stressed that efficient use of technology, knowledgeable people and well defined processes are key to the success of the CVR exercise. She admonished the trainees to develop mindsets to learn, and also to take note of the recent innovations introduced into the CVR technology to enable them efficiently discharge their responsibilities to the people.

In INEC FCT, 66 Registration Officers were trained for the in- person CVR exercise billed to start on Monday, 25th August, 2025 at the INEC offices in the six Area Councils and Head Office.

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Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) yesterday, revealed that no fewer than 505,906 eligible Nigerians have pre-registered online for the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise within
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August 23, 2025
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FG, Japan Intensify Talks on $238m Loan for National Power Grid Expansion

*Adelabu: Only 60% of Nigerians has access to electricity supply

Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja

The federal government has entered into discussions with the Japanese government for a $238 million loan to expand Nigeria’s national electricity grid network, especially the transmission segment of the power value chain.

This was part of the outcome of deliberations at the just concluded Ninth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD 9) in Yokohama, Japan, where President Bola Tinubu participated in high-level engagements that prioritised power and infrastructure.

At the event, the Minister of Power, Chief Adebayo Adelabu, a statement from his spokesman, Bolaji Tunji, said, held talks with Japanese stakeholders, including Toshiba, Hitachi, Japan’s Transmission & Distribution Corporation, and Energy Exchange corporations, focusing on transmission infrastructure, operational efficiency, and strategies to reduce system losses.

“These engagements built on the recent Federal Executive Council (FEC) approvals for counterpart funding of N19,083,192,805.30 to catalyse a loan funding of $238 million from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

“This loan funding will support the expansion of the national grid with the addition of 102.95km of new 330kV double circuit (DC) line, 104.59km of new 132kV double circuit (DC) line, four 330/132/33kV substations, two132/33kv substations, two 330kV line bays extension, two 132kV line bays extension, and one 132kV substation,” the statement added.

During the engagement, the minister also announced that Nigeria was advancing a $190 million renewable energy loan facility supported by JICA, designed to scale distributed renewable energy solutions across underserved communities.

This, he said, builds on the recently launched $750 million World Bank Distributed Access through Renewable Energy Scale-up (DARES) programme under the Mission 300 Compact, which aims to bring clean and reliable electricity to more than 17 million Nigerians.

Besides, he noted that three substations funded by JICA through a $32 million grant are set for commissioning in Apo (FCT), Keffi (Nasarawa State), and Apapa (Lagos State).

According to the statement, these projects will directly strengthen supply reliability to households, businesses, and industrial clusters, including critical facilities such as the Lagos Port and surrounding industrial areas.

In addition, through the partnership with JICA, the National Power Training Institute of Nigeria (NAPTIN), the statement said, has commissioned state-of-the-art training equipment in Abuja to strengthen the skills of distribution engineers and tackle network losses.

The facility is designed to deepen local expertise and promote long-term sustainability in sector operations through capacity development which remains a cornerstone of Nigeria’s power sector strategy.

Speaking during a panel session titled “HICKARE Africa: Harnessing Innovation, Co-creation, and Knowledge for Accessible and Resilient Energy for Africa,” Adelabu highlighted Nigeria’s current energy realities, noting that only 55–60 per cent of the country’s population of over 200 million has access to electricity, much of which remains unreliable.

He explained that the federal government was addressing this gap by expanding grid access in urban areas while simultaneously accelerating off-grid solutions, including solar mini-grids and standalone systems, for rural and peri-urban communities.

Despite persistent challenges such as limited access to affordable capital, cost barriers for rural households, and under-utilisation of productive-use equipment, Adelabu reaffirmed the government’s commitment to overcoming these obstacles through supportive policies, strategic private-sector partnerships, and local manufacturing of renewable energy components.

He expressed appreciation to JICA and the Government of Japan for their long-standing support to Nigeria’s power sector, recognising JICA as a reliable partner in advancing the country’s energy transition and expanding access to reliable, affordable, and sustainable electricity.

The minister highlighted JICA’s contributions across infrastructure development, technical studies, training, and renewable energy financing and expressed optimism for further strengthened collaboration between both governments.

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*Adelabu: Only 60% of Nigerians has access to electricity supply Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja The federal government has entered into discussions with the Japanese government for a $238 million loan
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Court Convicts Three Internet Fraudsters Arrested During OOPL Hotel Raid

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