(EFCC) achieved a conviction against Lawal Oluwadamilare Samuel before Justice

On Tuesday, August 05 2025 ,The Lagos Zonal Directorate 2 of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) achieved a conviction against Lawal Oluwadamilare Samuel before Justice D.I. Dipeolu at the Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos.

Samuel received a six-month prison sentence after pleading guilty to a one-count charge related to cybercrime. The charge stated: "That you, Lawal Oluwadamilare Samuel (also known as Sandra Brooks), sometime in 2022 in Lagos and within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, with the intent to defraud over the internet, misrepresented yourself on Google as 'Sandra Brooks, a white female from Virginia, USA,' to one Keith, for the purpose of gaining personal advantage, thereby committing an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 22 of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition etc.) Act, 2015." In response to the charge, Samuel entered a plea of "guilty." Following this plea, prosecution attorney A.A. Usman called Muhammad Al-Mustapha Bello, an EFCC operative, to present the facts of the case. Bello testified that Samuel was apprehended on May 16, 2025, at his hideout in the Command area of Ipaja, Lagos State, during a raid spurred by intelligence received by the Commission. Bello explained that Samuel created a fraudulent Facebook account using a female identity and posed as Sandra Brooks, a woman from Virginia, to deceive Keith, a resident of Illinois, USA, from whom he unlawfully gained a total of $700 (Seven Hundred Dollars). During the investigation, operatives seized several items from him, including a Samsung Galaxy S9, an HP laptop, a Samsung tablet, and a 2008 Mercedes Benz C300. Additionally, Bello indicated that Samuel had restituted N500,000 (Five Hundred Thousand Naira) through Zenith Bank. Usman later sought to admit the defendant's extrajudicial statements, along with the Samsung Galaxy S9, HP laptop, Samsung tablet, and forensic investigation documents as exhibits, which were accepted by the court. In defense, Kehinde Sanni-Mutoshi urged the court to "temper justice with mercy," asserting that Samuel is a first-time offender and expressed deep remorse for his actions.

Subsequently, Justice Dipeolu convicted Samuel and imposed a six-month sentence, allowing for an alternative fine of N3,000,000 (Three Million Naira). The judge also ordered the forfeiture of the Samsung Galaxy S9, HP laptop, Samsung tablet, the 2008 Mercedes Benz C300, and N500,000 to the Federal Government of Nigeria. Samuel's path to the Correctional Centre began with his arrest for internet-related crimes, which led to his prosecution and imprisonment.