EFCC: Court Sentences Man to Three Years in Prison for Facebook Impersonation
A Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos, has sentenced Kelechi Declan James to three years’ imprisonment for impersonating a foreign national on Facebook.
Justice Daniel Osiagor delivered the judgment on Friday, October 9, 2026, following James’s guilty plea to a one-count charge of impersonation filed by the Lagos Zonal Directorate 1 of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
According to the charge, James fraudulently impersonated one David Hernandez on his Facebook account on or about September 9, 2026, with the intention of gaining an advantage for himself.
The offence is punishable under Section 22(2)(b) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2015, as amended in 2024.
The EFCC disclosed that the case followed a petition alleging that the suspect approached the petitioner in December 2024, claiming to have Nigerian business partners who needed foreign currency exchange services.
The petitioner reportedly transferred $135,000, equivalent to ₦201,165,843.50, into an account nominated by James after being persuaded to provide the funds.
However, despite acknowledging receipt of the money, James allegedly failed to remit the agreed naira equivalent or refund the dollars. Attempts by the petitioner to recover the funds were reportedly unsuccessful.
During the court proceedings, prosecuting counsel, S. I. Suleiman, presented the facts of the case and urged the court to convict and sentence the defendant.
Justice Osiagor subsequently sentenced James to three years’ imprisonment, with an option of a ₦300,000 fine. The court also ordered him to perform three days of community service in connection with the sentence.
