EFCC arraigns three accused of impersonating blogger Tunde Ednut to collect over N18.2 million
Nigeria's EFCC has arraigned three men accused of impersonating blogger Tunde Ednut and using bank accounts opened in that identity to collect ₦18,264,700 from the public. They pleaded not guilty; the case resumes 17 November 2026.
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Source: timesng.com.ng · published
What happened
TimesNG reported on 17 October 2026 that Nigeria's Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) arraigned Raymond Charles Yafetus, Auwal Ibrahim and Babangida Yahaya Ibrahim before Justice S. O. Ibrahim of the Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday, 15 October 2026. They face a three-count charge bordering on cybercrime: conspiracy to commit fraud, impersonation and obtaining money by false pretence.
The EFCC alleges that between April and June 2026, in Abuja, the defendants assumed the identity of blogger and influencer Adekunle Tunde Olaoluwa, popularly known as Tunde Ednut, opened bank accounts at different Nigerian banks in that assumed character, and received a total of ₦18,264,700 from unsuspecting members of the public. The commission says the alleged offence is contrary to Section 22(2)(b)(ii) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act 2015. Tunde Ednut is the person impersonated; he is not accused of wrongdoing.
The defendants pleaded not guilty. Prosecution counsel Elizabeth Alabi asked for a trial date and for the defendants to be remanded, and the judge ordered their remand at Kuje Correctional Centre and adjourned the case to 17 November 2026. TimesNG notes an apparent inconsistency in the EFCC statement: it says all three were arraigned, while the reproduced second count describes Babangida Yahaya Ibrahim as "now at large". These are allegations; no one has been convicted.
How the scam works
According to the charge, the impersonation ran through bank accounts opened in a celebrity's name. A famous name on a receiving account can make a request for money look legitimate, whether it is presented as a giveaway, a donation, a business deal or a payment to the influencer himself. Seeing a well-known name on an account does not show the account belongs to that person, or that the person asked for the money.
Source
TimesNG, "They Impersonated Tunde Ednut And Obtained ₦18.2m — EFCC Arraigns Three, Court Remands Them In Kuje" (17 October 2026), reproducing the EFCC’s statement.
Red flags
- A request to send money to an account in a celebrity's or influencer's name.
- Giveaways, donations or deals promoted by unverified accounts using a famous person's identity.
- Pressure to pay quickly before you can check through the person's verified pages.
If you were targeted
- 1Don't send money because an account name matches a celebrity; check the request on the person's verified social media pages.
- 2If you paid, contact your bank immediately and keep the transfer details and messages.
- 3In Nigeria, report suspected fraud to the EFCC through its official website or offices.