Man Arraigned in Lagos for Alleged N1.6m and $5,000 Online Fraud

A man, Essien Akpama, was on Monday arraigned before the Federal High Court in Lagos for alleged identity theft, impersonation, and cyber fraud.

The Police Force Criminal Investigation Department, Alagbon-Ikoyi, charged Akpama with impersonating two Brazilian nationals, Jose Carlos and Joseph Belotti, via Facebook to carry out fraudulent activities.

According to the prosecution, the defendant allegedly defrauded a victim, Linda Schnur, of high-end electronics and cash in 2025. The items reportedly obtained include a MacBook Pro 14 laptop, an iPhone 17 Pro Max, three Google Pixel phones, N1.6 million, and $5,000.

Akpama pleaded not guilty to the charges, which contravene Section 484 of the Criminal Code Act and Section 14 of the Cybercrime Act.

Justice Ambrose Lewis-Allagoa granted the defendant bail set at N2 million with one surety in like sum. The surety must be a landed property owner within the court’s jurisdiction or a public servant on Grade Level 14 or equivalent.

The defendant was remanded in custody pending the fulfilment of his bail conditions. The case has been adjourned to March 27, 2026, for trial.