Court Jails Two for Impersonation in Lagos

Lagos, Tuesday, September 30, 2025 —

Justice Alexander Owoeye of the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos, on Tuesday convicted and sentenced Joshua Victor David and Abdulmalik Adesanya Olayiwola to one year imprisonment each for the offence of impersonation.

The duo was arraigned on separate one-count charges of fraudulent impersonation by the Lagos Zonal Directorate 1 of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Joshua Victor David was charged with impersonating a woman named Clara Jane in August 2025. According to the charge, David used the email address monexmindedloas767@gmail.com to pose as Clara Jane and deceive John Brill, an unsuspecting victim, with the intent to gain advantage. This act was prosecuted under Section 22(2)(b) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2015.
Similarly, Abdulmalik Adesanya Olayiwola was accused of impersonating Kylie Dowdy on the Facebook App during the same period in Lagos. The charge against him also cited Section 22(2)(b) of the Cybercrimes Act for fraudulent impersonation intended for personal gain.
Both defendants pleaded guilty when the charges were read to them. Following their pleas, prosecution counsels Fadeke Giwa and Ukoha Nwandu reviewed the facts, tendered statements from the defendants, and submitted mobile devices recovered during the investigation as evidence.

Justice Owoeye subsequently sentenced Joshua Victor David to one year imprisonment, with an option to pay a fine of Three Hundred Thousand Naira (₦300,000). Additionally, the court ordered the forfeiture of David’s iPhone 16 and a bank draft valued at ₦250,000 to the Federal Government of Nigeria.

Abdulmalik Adesanya Olayiwola received a similar sentence of one year imprisonment, with an option to pay a fine of Six Hundred Thousand Naira (₦600,000).
Both convicts were arrested for internet fraud, and their convictions serve as a stern warning against impersonation and related cybercrimes in Lagos and beyond.