Police arraign suspected Yahoo boy, Samson Onaolapo, before a Lagos Federal High Court over an alleged $7,000 romance scam

Operatives of the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID), Annexe, Alagbon-Ikoyi, Lagos, on Tuesday arraigned a suspected internet fraudster, Samson Onaolapo, over an alleged $7,000 romance scam.

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Onaolapo, popularly described as a “Yahoo boy”, was brought before the Federal High Court in Lagos, presided over by Justice Alexander Owoeye, on four counts bordering on conspiracy, obtaining by false pretence, stealing and impersonation.

The charges were preferred against him by the Nigeria Police Force. The defendant, who resides at 34 Association Crescent, Abimbola Awoniyi Estate, Ifako-Ijaiye, Lagos, pleaded not guilty to all counts when they were read to him in court.

Addressing the court, the prosecution counsel, Williams Tijani, alleged that the defendant used his email address, ScothSparks@yahoo.com, to fraudulently impersonate an American citizen, Scott Spark.

He said the impersonation was carried out to defraud two victims, identified as Patti Anna and Linda Morgan, of the sum of $7,000.

Tijani further told the court that Onaolapo allegedly acquired, retained and took possession of the funds, knowing or having reasonable grounds to know that the money represented proceeds of unlawful activity. According to the prosecution, the alleged offences were committed between 2019 and 2024.

The prosecutor stated that the offences contravened provisions of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act, 2006; the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2015, as amended in 2024; the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011, as amended; and Section 390 of the Criminal Code Act, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

Following the defendant’s plea of not guilty, the prosecution applied for a trial date and urged the court to remand the defendant in custody pending the determination of the case.

However, defence counsel, Olalekan Ogunbunmi, informed the court that he had just been briefed and requested a short adjournment to enable him to file a formal bail application on behalf of his client.

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In his ruling, Justice Owoeye adjourned the matter to May 27, 2026, for trial and ordered that the defendant be remanded in the custody of the Correctional Centre pending the hearing and determination of his bail application.