The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has arraigned three men before the Federal High Court in Abuja over alleged impersonation of Nigerian blogger and social media influencer, Tunde Ednut, and a fraud involving N18.26 million.
The defendants, Raymond Charles Yafetus, Auwal Ibrahim and Babangida Yahaya Ibrahim, were arraigned on Thursday, October 15, 2026, before Justice S. O. Ibrahim on a three-count charge bordering on cybercrime, conspiracy, impersonation and obtaining money by false pretence.
According to the EFCC, the defendants allegedly impersonated Ednut, whose real name is Adekunle Tunde Olaoluwa, between April and June 2026.
The commission alleged that the defendants used the assumed identity to open bank accounts in different banks across Nigeria and obtained N18,264,700 from unsuspecting members of the public.
One of the charges accused the defendants of fraudulently impersonating the influencer with the intention of defrauding members of the public.
The charge reads in part: “That you Raymond Charles Yafetus, Auwal Ibrahim and Babangida Yahaya Ibrahim (now at large) between April and June 2026 at Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court with the intent to defraud, did fraudulently impersonate one Adekunle Tunde Olaoluwa, popularly known as Tunde-Ednut and in that assumed character opened bank account in different banks in Nigeria and you obtained a total sum of N18,264,700.”
The commission said the alleged offence contravened Section 22(2)(b)(ii) of the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act 2015 and was punishable under Section 22(b)(iv) of the same Act.
The defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges when they were read to them in court.
Following their pleas, the prosecution counsel, Elizabeth Alabi, asked the court to fix a date for trial and order the remand of the defendants at the Kuje Correctional Centre in Abuja.
Justice Ibrahim ordered that the defendants be remanded at the correctional facility and adjourned the case until November 17, 2026, for further proceedings.
The EFCC’s Head of Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale, disclosed the arraignment in a statement dated October 15, 2026.
The defendants have not been convicted, and the allegations remain to be proved in court.