Man Jailed Six Months for Internet Fraud in Lagos

The Lagos Zonal Directorate 2 of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has secured a conviction against one Farouq Olayinka Aremu for internet fraud. He was sentenced on Tuesday, August 5, 2025, by Justice D.I. Dipeolu at the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos.

Aremu faced a single count charge of cybercrime after he was found to have impersonated a white man named “Jeo Glenn” on Instagram, with the handle @jeoglenn. Through this false identity, he defrauded unsuspecting internet users, specifically through romance scams. Investigations revealed he benefited a total of €1,100 from the fraudulent activities. The EFCC operatives arrested him on May 16, 2025, in the Ipaja area of Lagos, following intelligence reports about a cybercriminal group operating in the neighborhood.

Key evidence, including an iPhone 12 Pro, an HP laptop, and fraudulent documents, was recovered during the arrest and subsequently tendered in court. Additionally, Aremu made partial restitution by returning N600,000 via bank draft.

Upon arraignment, Aremu pleaded guilty. The EFCC’s prosecution counsel, A.A. Usman, presented witness testimony and documentation linking the defendant to the crime. The defense counsel, Nneka Nkama, pleaded for leniency on the grounds that Aremu was a first-time offender and showed remorse.

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Justice Dipeolu sentenced Aremu to six months’ imprisonment, with an option to pay a N1,000,000 fine. The court also ordered the forfeiture of the recovered iPhone, laptop, and N600,000 to the Federal Government of Nigeria.

This conviction is part of an ongoing crackdown on internet crimes by the EFCC across Lagos. The agency has recently secured similar convictions against individuals involved in romance scams and other forms of cybercrime in the state.