The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Lagos Zonal Directorate 2, has secured the conviction and sentencing of one Ademola Ayobami Idris for cybercrime, following his arrest in connection with online employment fraud.
Justice D.I. Dipeolu of the Federal High Court, Ikoyi, on Friday, August 1, 2025, sentenced Idris to three months imprisonment without the option of a fine.
Guilty Plea and Fraud Details
Idris was arraigned on a one-count charge bordering on cybercrime, to which he pleaded guilty. The charge read:
> “That you, Ademola Ayobami Idris, sometime in 2021 in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, fraudulently held out yourself on Google mail as Mike Samorano, an American recruiter, with intent to gain advantage for yourself, and you thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 22 (2)(b) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition) Act, 2015.”
In view of the guilty plea, prosecution counsel A.A. Usman called Kamal Musa Jubril, an EFCC operative, to present the facts of the case.
Arrest and Evidence
Jubril told the court that the defendant was arrested during a sting operation in Alagbado, Lagos, following intelligence received about cybercriminals operating in the area. Upon apprehension, Idris attempted to destroy his iPhone 15 Pro Max, which was later recovered.
Initially claiming to be a cryptocurrency trader, Idris confessed during interrogation that he was involved in online employment scams. He admitted sending fraudulent job offers via email to unsuspecting victims after obtaining their contact information from the Craigslist app.
According to the EFCC, the defendant benefited $400 from his illicit activity and later restituted ₦300,000.
Court Ruling and Forfeitures
Prosecuting counsel presented the following as exhibits:
The defendant’s extrajudicial statements
The recovered iPhone 15 Pro Max
Forensic investigation documents
Justice Dipeolu convicted and sentenced Idris to three months imprisonment and ordered:
Forfeiture of the ₦300,000 restitution to the Federal Government of Nigeria
Forfeiture of the iPhone 15 Pro Max, used in perpetrating the crime
The conviction marks another milestone in the EFCC’s ongoing campaign against cybercrime in Nigeria.
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