A man identified as Elijah Okwa Etenrulimre has been sentenced to three months in prison for impersonating a celebrity on social media to defraud others. The Federal High Court in Uyo handed down the sentence on Thursday, May 29, 2025, after Etenrulimre pleaded guilty to the charges brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The EFCC, through its Head of Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale, confirmed the conviction in an official statement released on May 30. The agency said Etenrulimre, who hails from Cross River State, had posed online as American actress Kaley Cuoco to deceive unsuspecting individuals and gain personal advantage.
The one-count charge read in court stated that the offence violated Section 22(2)(b)(i) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) (Amendment) Act of 2024. After the charge was presented, Etenrulimre admitted guilt.
The EFCC’s legal representative, Enobong Ubokudom, urged the court to proceed with sentencing, while the defendant’s lawyer, Samson Awuje, asked for leniency, pointing to his client’s remorse and cooperation.
Justice Maurine Adaobi ruled in favour of a custodial sentence but granted an alternative option of a ₦200,000 fine. The sentence is to run from the day of Etenrulimre’s arrest on May 5, 2025, when EFCC operatives picked him up at his residence in Okuku, Yala Local Government Area of Cross River State during a sting operation.
