Nigerian Man, Ademola Ayobami Idris, Jailed for Impersonating American Recruiter in Lagos Cybercrime Case
The Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos, has sentenced a Nigerian man, Ademola Ayobami Idris, to three months in prison for cybercrime after he posed as an American recruiter named Mike Samorano to defraud unsuspecting victims online. Eyes Of Lagos reports,
The convict was arraigned on Friday, August 1, 2025, before Justice D.I. Dipeolu by the Lagos Zonal Directorate 2 of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on a one-count charge of cyber fraud.
According to the charge, Idris, in 2021, fraudulently presented himself via Google Mail as an American recruiter in order to unlawfully gain financial advantage, an offence contrary to Section 22 (2)(b) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2015.
Arrest and Confession
EFCC operative Kamal Musa Jubril told the court that Idris was apprehended during a sting operation in the Alagbado area of Lagos State following intelligence reports on internet fraud activities in the area. Upon sighting operatives, Idris attempted to destroy evidence by smashing his iPhone 15 Pro Max, but was taken into custody.
Initially claiming to be a cryptocurrency trader, Idris later confessed to engaging in online employment scams. He admitted sending fraudulent job offers to victims whose contact details he harvested from the Craigslist app, making $400 from the scheme.
Restitution and Sentencing
The EFCC tendered his extrajudicial statements, the recovered iPhone, and forensic analysis reports as evidence, all of which were admitted by the court. Idris restituted ₦300,000 to the Federal Government.
Justice Dipeolu convicted him and imposed a three-month prison term without the option of a fine. The court also ordered the permanent forfeiture of the ₦300,000 restitution and the iPhone 15 Pro Max to the Federal Government.
The EFCC reiterated its commitment to tackling cybercrime in Nigeria, warning that online impersonation and job scam schemes remain a criminal offence punishable under Nigerian law.