By Felix Kuyinu
A man identified as Aluko Tunmise has been convicted for impersonating on the social media.
The convict was arraigned at the Federal High Court, Ikoyi, Lagos, by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commision, EFCC.
On Wednesday at the court, Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke sentenced the offender to one year imprisonment for celebrity scam.
Aluko, arraigned on one-count charge bordering on cybercrimes by the Lagos Zonal Command of the EFCC was said to have paraded himself on social media as one Keanu Reeves on his Telegram Account to procure a sum of money.
One of the count charge states: “That you, Aluko Tunmise Juwonlo, sometime between January and March, 2024 in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, directly made a false statement, wherein you held yourself out as a white man by name “KEANU REEVES” on your Telegram Account, knowing same to be false and with intent that the representation is relied upon for the purpose of procuring the issuance of financial instrument to yourself and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 22(3) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention etc) Act, 2015.”
Aluko pleaded guilty.
Following his guilty plea, the Commision through its operative, Vincent Kwambuge, reviewed the facts of the matter.
Kwanbuge told the court that the convict was arrested sometime in March, 2024 at Lekki County Estate, Lagos, following credible intelligence report received by the Commission on the activities of some internet fraudsters operating in the area.
According to him, an iPhone 12 Pro Max was recovered from the lawbreaker at the point of arrest. Kwanbuge further revealed that a forensic evidence was printed out of the phone and a volunteered statements of confession was uttered by him.
Justice Aneke, admitting the evidence as exhibits, sentenced the defendant to one year imprisonment with an option of fine of N300,000 alongside 100-hours community service.
The Judge also ordered that his mobile phone be forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria.
