By Idowu Adebomi
An Ekiti State High Court sitting in Ado-Ekiti has sentenced a 25-year-old internet fraudster, Ayomide Ademiloye Ifeoluwa, to 20 years imprisonment for offences bordering on impersonation and obtaining money under false pretences.
The convict, popularly known as a “Yahoo boy,” was sentenced by Justice Bamidele Omotosho after being arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on a four-count charge on May 5, 2026.
According to the EFCC, Ifeoluwa fraudulently obtained $700 from one Teresa Hodder through his Bybit Cash App wallet account after falsely presenting himself on WhatsApp as an American citizen named Charles Brandon.
The prosecution further disclosed that the defendant also obtained an additional $200 in gift cards from the same victim using the fraudulent identity.
The court also heard that the convict impersonated the fictitious American, Charles Brandon, in his dealings with another victim identified as Shanon via WhatsApp, with full knowledge that the representation was false.
The offences 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 hearing, the amended charges were read and explained to the defendant, who pleaded guilty to all counts.
Justice Omotosho subsequently sought confirmation from the convict on whether he had willingly entered into the plea bargain agreement and admitted to the offences without coercion. The defendant responded affirmatively.
While presenting the case, EFCC prosecuting counsel, Y.K. Saidu, called a witness and tendered several exhibits, 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 witness.
At the close of the prosecution’s case, Saidu informed the court that the convict had no prior criminal record, although no restitution had been made to the victims yet.
The prosecutor also urged the court to order the forfeiture of the recovered iPhone 16 to the Federal Government and requested that the device be sold through a public auction, with the proceeds paid as restitution to the victim.
In his judgment, Justice Omotosho sentenced the convict to nine years imprisonment each on counts one and two, without an option of a fine. On counts three and four, the court sentenced him to one year imprisonment each, with an option of a ₦200,000 fine.
The judge, however, ruled that the sentences would run concurrently.
The court also ordered the forfeiture of the iPhone 16 to the Federal Government in accordance with Section 31 of the EFCC Establishment Act, 2004, directing that the device be auctioned and the proceeds from the sale returned to the victim.