The Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos, presided over by Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke, sentenced social media influencer and model Aluko Tunmise to one year in prison for cybercrimes related to a celebrity scam. Tunmise, who also went by the name “Keanu Reeves” online, pleaded guilty to charges brought by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The EFCC’s Lagos Zonal Command charged Tunmise with impersonating a celebrity to defraud individuals between January and March 2024. Tunmise used his Telegram account to pose as a white man named Keanu Reeves, intending to secure financial benefits.
Prosecution counsel C.C. Okezie presented evidence, including forensic data from Tunmise’s iPhone 12 Pro Max, which was seized during his arrest at Lekki County Estate in March 2024. Tunmise admitted to the celebrity impersonation scheme in his statement.
While defense counsel A.O. Idowu requested leniency and a non-custodial sentence for the first-time offender, Justice Aneke imposed a one-year prison term. The sentence included an option of a N300,000 fine and 100 hours of community service. Additionally, the court ordered the forfeiture of Tunmise’s mobile phone to the Federal Government of Nigeria.
