The Lagos Zonal Directorate 2 of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Tuesday, secured the conviction and sentence of one Farouq Olayinka Aremu before Justice D.I. Dipeolu of the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos.
He was arraigned on a one-count charge bordering on cybercrime.
The count reads: “ That you, Faruq Olayinka Aremu, sometime in 2025, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, fraudulently held out yourself on Instagram as @jeoglenn bearing the name Jeo Glenn, a white man with intent to gain advantage for yourself and you thereby by committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 22 (3) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition etc ) Act 2015.”
He “pleaded” guilty to the charge preferred against him.
Following his guilty plea, the prosecution counsel, A.A.Usman, called on Muhammad Nuhu, an operative of the EFCC, to review the fact of the case.
Nuhu stated that the defendant was arrested by operatives of the EFCC on May 16, 2025 at the Command, Ipaja area of Lagos State, following intelligence report received by the Commission on the activities of a group of cybercriminals operating in the area.
According to him, “The group specializes in defrauding unsuspecting users of the internet, particularly social media , via romance scam.
“ He confessed to have benefited the sum of €500 (Five Hundred Euro)from his fraudulent activities.
“However, investigation revealed that he benefited the sum of €1,100 ( One Thousand, One Hundred Euro)from his activities”.
Continuing, he further stated that “He presents himself as Jeoglann on Instagram; and he uses mikejeoglann@gmail.com and technologylogistics@gmail.com for his fraudulent activities.
“During the investigation, an iPhone 12 Pro, HP laptop as well as fraudulent documents were recovered from him.
“He restituted the sum of N600 ( Six Hundred Thousand Naira) through a bank draft.”
Usman, thereafter, sought to tender, in evidence, the defendant’s extrajudicial statements, iPhone 15 pro and forensic investigation documents print out, which were all admitted as exhibits.
The defence counsel, Nneka Nkama, prayed the court to “temper justice with mercy,” adding that “he is a first-time offender, and he is very remorseful.”
Consequently, Justice Dipeolu, convicted and sentenced him to six months imprisonment, with an option of N1,000,000.00 (One million Naira) fine.
The Judge also ordered that the iphone pro, HP laptop and N600,000 be forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria.
The convict bagged his imprisonment when he was arrested by operatives of the EFCC for internet crimes. He was charged to court and jailed.
Source; PM News
