The Federal High Court sitting in the Ikoyi area of Lagos has convicted and sentenced self-acclaimed social media influencer and model Aluko Tunmise to one year imprisonment for a celebrity scam.

Tunmise was arraigned by the Lagos Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on a one-count charge bordering on cybercrimes.

One of the counts read: “That you, Aluko Tunmise Juwonlo (a.k.a. Keanu Reeves), sometime between January and March 2024 in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, directly made a false statement, wherein you held yourself out as a white man by name “Keanu Reeves” on your Telegram Account, knowing same to be false and with intent that the representation is relied upon for the purpose of procuring the issuance of financial instrument to yourself and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 22(3) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention etc) Act, 2015.”

He pleaded “guilty” to the charge when it was read to him.

Following his guilty plea, prosecution counsel C.C.Okezie sought to present EFCC operative Vincent Sunday Kwambuge to review the facts of the matter.

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Kwanbuge told the court that the defendant was arrested in March 2024 at Lekki County Estate, Lagos, following credible intelligence received by the EFCC on the activities of some internet fraudsters operating in the area.

He disclosed that an iPhone 12 Pro Max was recovered from the defendant at the point of arrest.

The prosecution counsel added: “Upon his arrest, he was duly processed and the defendant volunteered his statements. Investigation was conducted and forensic evidence was printed out from his phone.

“In his statement, he confessed he was into celebrity scam, which is an impersonation of celebrities.”

Okezie, therefore, sought to tender, in evidence, the defendant’s extra-judicial statements, iPhone, and forensic investigation documents, which were admitted as exhibits.

Defence counsel A.O. Idowu prayed the court for leniency, saying the defendant “is a first-time offender and is sorry for his actions”.

He also prayed the court for a non-custodial sentence.

However, presiding judge Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke, on Wednesday, May 15, 2024, convicted and sentenced Tunmise to one year imprisonment with an option of a fine of N300,000 with 100 hours community service.

The judge also ordered that Tunmise’s mobile phone be forfeited to the Federal Government.

The Star