EFCC Convicts Two Lagos Fraudsters Over Dating Scams and Money Laundering

​LAGOS — Two internet fraudsters, Agboola Abdullahi Abiodun and Victor Okonjo, have been handed various prison terms by Justice F.N. Ogazi of the Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos, following separate prosecutions by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

​The Lagos Zonal Directorate 1 of the anti-graft agency secured the convictions after the defendants pleaded guilty to amended charges bordering on cybercrime, fraudulent impersonation, and money laundering.

​Court filings revealed that Agboola orchestrated a romance scam throughout 2025, using illicit proceeds to acquire a Black Toyota Venza to obscure the illegal origin of the funds. This act violated Section 18(2)(a) and is punishable under Section 18(3) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

​Victor Okonjo faced a separate two-count charge for assuming the identity of an American citizen, Aaron Bauer, in 2025 to defraud unsuspecting victims. His actions contravened Section 22(2)(b) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2015.

​Following their guilty pleas, prosecution counsel F.B. Orilade reviewed the case facts and prayed the court for immediate conviction.

ADVERTISEMENT

​Justice Ogazi sentenced Agboola to four years on count one, alongside one year each for counts two and three. Victor received a one-year sentence with the option of a N500,000 fine on count one, and four years on count two. The court ordered that all prison terms run concurrently, commencing from the respective dates of their arrests.

​In addition to the custodial sentences, Justice Ogazi ordered the final forfeiture of the convicts’ luxury assets—including mobile devices, laptops, the Toyota Venza, and a 2020 Mercedes-Benz—to the Federal Government. The court directed that these assets be liquidated, with the proceeds channeled directly back to identified victims or, alternatively, remitted to the federal treasury if victims remain untraceable.