Four individuals were brought before Justice Yellim Bogoro of the Federal High Court, Ikoyi, Lagos, on Tuesday, May 27, by the Lagos Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), over alleged internet fraud and laundering of N75 million.
Those arraigned include Chidera Ezechukwu Praise, Oghomienor Jotham Anirejuoritse, Shittu Gbenga Solomon, and Olamilekan Ibraheem.
Praise is facing two counts bordering on online fraud and unlawful retention of funds, while the three others each face a single count related to internet scams. They were apprehended during a sting operation by EFCC operatives, following intelligence on cybercrime activities.
One of the charges against Praise reads: “That you, CHIDERA EZECHUKWU PRAISE, sometime in May 2025 at Lagos… did retain the sum of N12,750,318.63 in your UBA account… which sum you reasonably ought to have known forms part of the proceeds of your unlawful act to wit: engaging in online dating scam…” This is in contravention of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2004 (as amended).
Anirejuoritse, on his part, was charged with impersonating a Canadian citizen, Christopher Rozup, in 2024, with intent to fraudulently benefit from the identity, breaching provisions of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention etc.) Act, 2015.
All four defendants entered guilty pleas to the charges.
In response, EFCC prosecutors H.U. Kofarnaisa and Fanen Anum presented four investigating officers–Abdullahi Abubakar, Adaezi Eghosa, Hamza Lawal, and Nwike Fortune who recounted the findings of the commission.
Abubakar disclosed that N75 million was traced to various accounts linked to Praise.
Items recovered during investigations, including the suspects’ statements, digital devices, and a vehicle taken from Shittu Gbenga, were submitted as evidence and accepted by the court.
The prosecution urged the court to convict the defendants and issue an order for the forfeiture of the funds to the Nigerian government.
Justice Bogoro adjourned the case until June 13, 2025, for sentencing and ordered that the accused be remanded in a correctional facility.
