Justice D.I. Dipeolu of the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos, on Tuesday, August 19, 2025, convicted and sentenced the duo of Yusuf Ramon and Ganiyu Ibrahim for internet fraud.
The convicts are among the 93 suspected fraudsters arrested during a sting operation on Sunday, August 10, 2025 at a hotel within the precincts of Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library, OOPL, Abeokuta, Ogun State.
They were arraigned on Tuesday on separate one-count charges bordering on impersonation, identity and internet fraud by the Lagos Zonal Directorate 2 of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.
The charge against Ramon reads: “
That you, YUSUF RAMON, on or about 10in August, 2025 at Lagos within the Jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, fraudulently impersonated one “ANNA MARRY”, a white woman on your Instagram handle, “@marie barbelon with intent to gain advantage for yourself and you thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 22(2)(b) of the Cyber Crimes (Prohibition, Prevention Etc) Act, 2015.”
The charge against Ibrahim reads: “ That you, GANIU IBRAHIM (a.k.a ‘Elena Pears’) sometime in August, 2025 within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, had in your possession a Facebook Account titled: ‘Elenapears” wherein you fraudulently represented yourself as ‘Elena Pears’ a White American Female to one Brad through your Facebook account which is connected to your Iphone 13 with no: 09050610185 with intent to gain advantage for yourself contrary to S. 22(2)(b) (i) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention etc.) Act, 2015 and punishable under S. 22(2) (b) (iv) of the same law.”
They each pleaded “guilty” to the charges preferred against them.
In view of their guilty pleas, prosecution counsel, S.M. Yabo called two investigative officers, Chukwu Christian and Izuchukwu Collins, respectively, to review the facts of the cases.
Yabo, thereafter, sought to tender, in evidence, the extra-judicial statements of the defendants; Ramon’s iPhone XX and iPhone XX Max; Ibrahim’s iPhone 13; the N200,000 bank draft in restitution made by Ibrahim as well as the forensic investigation documents printed from their mobile devices.
They were all admitted as exhibits by the court.
The judge, in view of the defendants’ guilty pleas and evidence tendered by the prosecution, found them guilty and convicted them accordingly.
The defence counsel, respectively, pleaded with the judge to “ temper justice with mercy,” adding that their clients were first-time offenders who have shown remorse.
Delivering judgment, Justice Dipeolu convicted and sentenced Ramon to one month imprisonment from the day of his arrest, with the option of fine of N200,000( Two Hundred Thousand Naira).
The judge ordered that the mobile devices recovered from him be forfeited to the Federal Government.
Justice Dipeolu also convicted and sentenced Ibrahim, who confessed to have benefited the sum of $150( One Hundred and Fifty Dollars ) from his criminal activities, to one month imprisonment, with the option of fine of N200,000 ( Two Hundred Thousand Naira)
The Judge ordered that the iPhone 13 recovered from him as well as the sum of N200,000 bank draft be forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria.
