Three Remanded for Allegedly Impersonating Tunde Ednut, Defrauding Public of N18.2m

By Adebola Muili

Three men have been remanded at the Kuje Correctional Centre, Abuja, for allegedly impersonating Nigerian blogger and social media influencer, Tunde Ednut, and defrauding unsuspecting members of the public of N18.26 million.

The defendants, Raymond Charles Yafetus, Auwal Ibrahim and Babangida Yahaya Ibrahim, were remanded by Justice S. O. Ibrahim of the Federal High Court, Abuja, after pleading not guilty to a three-count charge bordering on cybercrime, conspiracy to commit fraud, impersonation and obtaining money by false pretence.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) arraigned the defendants on Thursday, October 15, 2026, alleging that they fraudulently assumed the identity of Adekunle Tunde Olaoluwa, popularly known as Tunde Ednut, to obtain N18,264,700 from members of the public.

According to the charge, the alleged offences were committed between April and June 2026 in Abuja, where the defendants allegedly used the influencer’s identity to open bank accounts in different financial institutions across Nigeria.

The EFCC alleged that the defendants used the accounts to collect money from unsuspecting members of the public under the guise of being the popular influencer.

One of the counts stated that the defendants acted with intent to defraud by impersonating Tunde Ednut and obtaining the money through the bank accounts opened in different banks.

The alleged offence was said to be contrary to Section 22(2)(b)(ii) of the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2015, and punishable under Section 22(2)(b)(iv) of the same Act.

When the charges were read to them, the defendants pleaded not guilty.

Following their pleas, prosecution counsel, Elizabeth Alabi, urged the court to fix a date for trial and order the remand of the defendants at the Kuje Correctional Centre pending further proceedings.

Justice Ibrahim granted the request and adjourned the case until November 17, 2026, for further proceedings.