Lagos court issues bench warrant against fleeing internet fraudster

Justice Abike-Fadipe of the Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos, on Tuesday, May 13, 2025, issued a warrant for the arrest of one Ekweozor Peter, a suspected internet fraudster, for failing to appear in court for his arraignment.

He was arrested alongside others on May 13, 2024, following credible intelligence received by the Commission regarding the alleged criminal activities of a syndicate of internet fraudsters operating at the Indy-Pool Hotel, Idowu Street, Ajegunle, Olodi Apapa, Lagos State.

Investigations revealed that he had opened fake Facebook and Instagram accounts and falsely represented himself as a female porn star from Atlanta, United States of America, with the intent to defraud unsuspecting internet users.

During the investigation, the defendant was granted administrative bail and was scheduled to report at the Lagos Zonal Directorate 1 of the EFCC on specified dates.

Upon conclusion of the investigation, a charge was filed against him before the court.

At the scheduled sitting on Tuesday, prosecution counsel Ayanfe Ogunsina informed the court of the Commission’s unsuccessful efforts to re-arrest the defendant, who had jumped the administrative bail granted to him and, as a result, could not be brought before the court for arraignment.

“Efforts to reach the two persons who stood as sureties for him have also been futile, as they too have absconded. My Lord, the defendant is aware that a charge has been filed against him, and he is on the run to evade arraignment and trial,” he said.

Ogunsina consequently filed a motion ex parte seeking an order of the court to issue a warrant of arrest against the defendant.

Ruling on the application, Justice Fadipe held that “the application is granted as prayed.”

The case was adjourned till June 18, 2025, for further proceedings.

Lagos court issues bench warrant against fleeing internet fraudster