An Ekiti State High Court sitting in Ado-Ekiti has sentenced a 25-year-old internet fraudster, Ayomide Ademiloye Ifeoluwa, popularly referred to as a “Yahoo boy,” to 20 years imprisonment for offences bordering on impersonation and obtaining money under false pretence.
The conviction was secured before Justice Bamidele Omotosho following the defendant’s arraignment on May 5, 2026, on a four-count charge filed against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
According to the charge, the convict, between 2025 and 2026, fraudulently obtained 700 dollars through his Bybit Cash App wallet account from one Teresa Hodder after falsely presenting himself on WhatsApp as an American citizen identified as Charles Brandon.
He was also accused of obtaining an additional 200 dollars in gift cards from the victim through the same fraudulent means.
The prosecution further stated that the defendant, with intent to defraud, also impersonated the same fictitious American identity, Charles Brandon, in his dealings with another victim identified as Shanon through WhatsApp, knowing the representation to be false.
The offences, according to the prosecution, contravened Sections 1(1)(b) and 1(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act, 2006, as well as Section 391(1) of the Criminal Law of Ekiti State, 2021.
At the commencement of proceedings, the amended charge was read and interpreted to the defendant, who pleaded guilty to all counts.
Justice Omotosho subsequently sought clarification from the convict on whether he voluntarily entered into the plea bargain agreement and admitted the allegations without coercion or undue influence.
The defendant answered in the affirmative.
While presenting the case for the EFCC, prosecuting counsel, Y.K. Saidu, called a witness and tendered several exhibits before the court, including the defendant’s extra-judicial statements, bank account statements, printed documents, transaction receipts, electronic gadgets, a land sale agreement, and an iPhone 16 recovered during the investigation.
The defence counsel, M.A. Adebisi, did not cross-examine the prosecution’s sole witness.
At the close of the prosecution’s case, Saidu informed the court that the convict had no previous criminal record but noted that no restitution had been made to the victims.
He urged the court to order the forfeiture of the iPhone 16 recovered from the defendant to the Federal Government, adding that the device should be sold through public auction with proceeds restituted to the victim.
Delivering judgment, Justice Omotosho sentenced the convict to nine years imprisonment each on counts one and two without an option of fine.
On counts three and four, the court sentenced him to one year imprisonment each with an option of N200,000 fine.
The judge, however, ordered that the sentences should run concurrently.
The court also ordered the forfeiture of the iPhone 16 to the Federal Government of Nigeria in line with Section 31 of the EFCC Establishment Act, 2004, directing that the device be disposed of through public auction, while proceeds from the sale be returned to the victim.
