Man Sentenced to Three Months in Prison for Impersonating White Woman in Online Fraud Scheme
A Lagos court has sentenced 27-year-old Salami Ponmile Bassit to three months in prison for his role in an internet fraud scheme in which he impersonated a white woman on Facebook to deceive unsuspecting victims.
Justice D.I. Dipeolu of the Federal High Court in Ikoyi handed down the sentence on Wednesday, August 20, after Bassit pleaded guilty to a one-count charge of cybercrime brought against him by the Lagos Zonal Directorate 2 of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
According to the EFCC, Bassit assumed the identity of a fictional American woman named “Katia Banks” on Facebook with the intent to defraud. Investigators revealed that he used the platform to lure victims, sending them explicit images to manipulate and exploit them for personal gain.
The charge read in court stated:
“That you, SALAMI PONMILE BASSIT, on or about 10th August, 2025, at Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, fraudulently impersonated one ‘Katia Banks,’ a white woman from the United States of America on Facebook Mobile Application with intent to gain advantage for yourself, thereby committing an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 22(2)(b) of the Cyber Crimes (Prohibition, Prevention Etc) Act, 2015.”
Following his guilty plea, EFCC operative Ilyasu Dauda presented key evidence during the trial, including Bassit’s extra-judicial statement, a forensic report, and an iPhone 16 used in the commission of the crime. All items were admitted into evidence without objection from the defence.
Bassit’s lawyer appealed to the court for leniency, describing him as a first-time offender. In delivering judgment, Justice Dipeolu acknowledged the plea but maintained that the gravity of the crime warranted punishment. Bassit was sentenced to three months behind bars with an option of a ₦2 million fine.
In addition to the jail term, the court ordered the forfeiture of the iPhone used in the fraud to the Federal Government.
Bassit’s arrest followed a sting operation by EFCC operatives on July 31, 2025, at Lekki Garden Horizon Height, Lagos, acting on intelligence about a network of suspected cybercriminals operating in the area.
