On Sunday, August 10, 2025, operatives from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) conducted a sting operation at a water splash party at the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL) in Abeokuta, Ogun State.
The event, attended by over 500 people, was disrupted when EFCC officials detained 93 suspected internet fraudsters.
The EFCC has confirmed the arrest of 93 individuals in Ogun State, with two of them, Yusuf Ramon and Ganiyu Ibrahim, convicted and sentenced on Tuesday, August 19, 2025, by Justice D.I. Dipeolu of the Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos.
The duo, arraigned by the EFCC’s Lagos Zonal Directorate 2, faced separate one-count charges of impersonation, identity theft, and internet fraud.
The charge against Ramon stated: “That you, YUSUF RAMON, on or about August 10, 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 read: “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.”
Both pleaded guilty. Prosecution counsel S.M. Yabo presented evidence, including the defendants’ statements, Ramon’s iPhone XX and iPhone XX Max, Ibrahim’s iPhone 13, a N200,000 bank draft from Ibrahim as restitution, and forensic documents from their devices, all admitted as exhibits. Investigative officers Chukwu Christian and Izuchukwu Collins reviewed the case facts.
Justice Dipeolu sentenced Ramon to one month imprisonment from the day of his arrest, with an option of a N200,000 fine, and ordered his mobile devices forfeited to the Federal Government.
Ibrahim, who admitted to gaining $150 from his crimes, received the same sentence and fine, with his iPhone 13 and N200,000 bank draft also forfeited.
A viral video of the raid has circulated on social media, sparking comments like, “For them to burst OOPL, trust me, no hotel is safe in Nigeria,” and “A person can’t even flex in this country, smh.”
The EFCC continues to investigate the remaining suspects, with potential charges pending as part of its intensified crackdown on cybercrime across Nigeria.
