The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Lagos Zonal Directorate 1, on Tuesday, May 27, 2025, arraigned four individuals before Justice Yellim Bogoro of the Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos, on charges of internet fraud and money laundering.
The defendants — Chidera Ezechukwu Praise, Oghomienor Jotham Anirejuoritse, Shittu Gbenga Solomon, and Olamilekan Ibraheem — were brought before the court following their arrest during a sting operation targeting suspected cybercriminals.
Praise faced a two-count charge involving alleged internet fraud and laundering of N75 million, while the other three were arraigned separately on one-count charges each for internet-related offences.
One charge against Praise read:
“That you, CHIDERA EZECHUKWU PRAISE, sometime in May 2025, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did retain the sum of N12,750,318.63 in your UBA account…which you reasonably ought to have known formed part of proceeds of your unlawful act, to wit: online dating scam…”
Another charge against Anirejuoritse alleged that he impersonated a Canadian citizen, Christopher Rozup, in a bid to fraudulently obtain personal gain—an offence under the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2015.
All four defendants pleaded guilty.
In response, prosecution counsel H.U. Kofarnaisa and Fanen Anum presented EFCC investigators Abdullahi Abubakar, Adaezi Eghosa, Hamza Lawal, and Nwike Fortune, who reviewed the facts before the court. Abubakar confirmed the discovery of N75 million across Praise’s bank accounts.
The court admitted into evidence the defendants’ statements, digital devices, a vehicle recovered from Shittu, and various sums of money linked to the offences. The prosecution prayed for the defendants’ conviction and for the forfeiture of all recovered assets to the Federal Government.
Justice Bogoro adjourned the case to June 13, 2025, for conviction and sentencing. The accused were remanded in the custody of the Nigerian Correctional Centre.
