Justice Daniel Osiagor of the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos, on Friday, October 9, 2026, convicted Kelechi Declan James and sentenced him to three years’ imprisonment for impersonation.

James was jailed on a one-count charge of impersonation brought against him by the Lagos Zonal Directorate 1 of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.

The charge alleged that James, on or about September 9, 2026, in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of the court, fraudulently impersonated one “David Hernandez” by presenting himself as such on his Facebook account with the intent to gain an advantage for himself.

The offence was said to be contrary to and punishable under Section 22(2)(b) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2015, as amended in 2024.

According to the petition received by the Commission, the petitioner alleged that sometime in December 2024, the suspect approached him, claiming to have Nigerian business partners who required foreign currency exchange services.

The suspect allegedly persuaded the petitioner to source and transfer a total of One Hundred and Thirty-Five Thousand Dollars ($135,000), equivalent to Two Hundred and One Million, One Hundred and Sixty Five Thousand, Eight Hundred and Forty Three Naira, Fifty Kobo (N201,165,843.50) into an account nominated by him.

The petitioner further alleged that despite acknowledging receipt of the funds, the suspect failed to remit the agreed naira equivalent or refund the dollars. All efforts by him to recover the funds reportedly proved unsuccessful.

When the charge was read to him, James pleaded guilty.

Prosecuting counsel, S. I. Suleiman, presented the facts of the case and urged the court to convict and sentence the defendant accordingly.

Justice Osiagor subsequently sentenced James to three years’ imprisonment, with an option of a ₦300,000 fine.

The court also ordered him to undertake three days of community service in connection with the sentence.

Dele Oyewale

Head, Media & Publicity

October 14, 2026