Three Men Face Trial for Allegedly Using Tunde Ednut’s Identity to Defraud Nigerians of N18.2m
Three men have been arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for allegedly impersonating Nigerian social media personality Tunde Ednut and defrauding members of the public of N18.26 million.
The suspects, identified as Raymond Charles Yafetus, Auwal Ibrahim and Babangida Yahaya Ibrahim, appeared before Justice S. O. Ibrahim of the Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday, October 15, 2026.
They are facing a three-count charge involving alleged cybercrime, conspiracy to commit fraud, impersonation and obtaining money by false pretence.
The EFCC alleged that the defendants carried out the scheme between April and June 2026 by assuming the identity of Tunde Ednut, whose real name is Adekunle Tunde Olaoluwa.
According to the commission, the suspects allegedly opened bank accounts in different banks across Nigeria using the assumed identity and received a total of N18,264,700 from unsuspecting members of the public.
The alleged offence, according to the charge, contravenes the provisions of the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2015.
All three defendants pleaded not guilty when the charges were read to them in court.
Following their pleas, EFCC prosecution counsel, Elizabeth Alabi, requested that the court schedule the matter for trial and order the remand of the defendants at the Kuje Correctional Centre in Abuja.
In his ruling, Justice Ibrahim ordered that the defendants be remanded at the facility and fixed November 17, 2026, for the next hearing.
The court proceedings will determine the outcome of the allegations against the defendants.
