Justice D.I. Dipeolu of the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos, on Wednesday, August 20, 2025, convicted and sentenced one Salami Ponmile Bassit to three months imprisonment for internet fraud.
He was jailed after being arraigned on Wednesday by the Lagos Zonal Directorate 2 of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on a one-count charge bordering on cybercrime.
The count reads: “That you, SALAMI PONMILE BASSIT, on or about 10th August. 2025 at Lagos within the Jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, fraudulently impersonated one “Katia Banks”, a white woman from United States of America on Facebook Mobile Application 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.”
He pleaded “guilty” to the charge when it was read to him.
In view of his charge, prosecution counsel, M. S. Yabo called on Ilyasu Dauda, an operative of the EFCC, to review the facts of the case.
Dauda stated that the defendant, who represented himself as a white female, was into internet scam.
He also stated that the defendant was sending phonographic images to his unsuspecting victims .
According to him, an iPhone 16, which he used to perpetrate the criminal activity, was recovered from him during investigation.
The prosecution counsel, thereafter, sought to tender, in evidence, the defendant’s extra-judicial statement, the iPhone 16 recovered from him and a forensic investigation document printed out from his device.
There was no objection by his lawyer and the documents were admitted in evidence by the court.
Justice Dipeolu, after considering the defendant’s guilty plea and the evidence tendered by the prosecution, found him guilty and convicted him.
His lawyer, thereafter, prayed the court for leniency, saying he was “a first-time offender.”
Delivering judgment, Justice Dipeolu convicted the defendant and sentenced him to three months imprisonment , with the option of fine of N2m.
The Judge also ordered that the iPhone recovered from him be forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria.
The convict’s journey to the Correctional Centre began when he was arrested, alongside others, on July 31, 2025 at Lekki Garden Horizon Height , Lagos during a sting operation by operatives of the Lagos Zonal Directorate 2 of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, following intelligence received by the Commission about the activities of some individuals allegedly involved in internet fraud in the area. He was charged to court and jailed.
