EFCC Convicts Three for Online Fraud After Abeokuta Hotel Raid
Three young men have been convicted of internet fraud by the Federal High Court in Lagos, following their arrest during a sting operation at a hotel located within the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library complex in Abeokuta. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), which carried out the raid on August 10, apprehended 93 suspects at the location. Among them were Adewale Adenekan, Oyatokun Qudus, and Adisa Okikiade, who were later charged and prosecuted for cybercrime offences. The case was heard by Justice Dehinde Dipeolu, sitting as a vacation judge, who delivered the verdict on Monday, August 18, 2025.
According to court proceedings, each defendant had engaged in impersonation with the aim of defrauding unsuspecting victims online. Qudus was found to have posed as a white woman named Eric Melissa on Instagram, using the false identity to solicit money. Adenekan, who also used a fake female persona, created a Gmail account in the name of a supposed U.S. woman and had already paid ₦200,000 in restitution prior to his sentencing. Okikiade operated under the alias Anthony Krenn through Google, running a similar fraudulent scheme. The court heard that their actions violated Section 22 of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc.) Act of 2015.
During sentencing, EFCC prosecutor Mr. Yobo presented key pieces of evidence including an iPhone 14 Pro Max used in the crimes, which the defence did not contest. All three defendants pleaded guilty to the charges. In his ruling, Justice Dipeolu sentenced Adenekan and Qudus to one month imprisonment each, with the option of paying a fine of ₦300,000. Okikiade received a similar one-month sentence, though the exact amount of his fine was not disclosed. Items recovered during the investigation, including phones and the restitution funds, were accepted as evidence by the court.
