Essien Akpama, a man accused of identity theft and cyber-enabled fraud, was arraigned in the Federal High Court in Lagos by the Nigeria Police Force's Criminal Investigation Department. The charges were related to alleged fraudulent activities that took place in 2025 at the Murtala Mohammed Airport in Ikeja, where Akpama is said to have impersonated two Brazilian nationals through his Facebook account.

In court, the prosecution counsel, Morufu Animashaun, detailed how Akpama committed the alleged fraud which involved defrauding a victim named Linda Schnur. The fraudulent acts included deceiving Schnur into handing over several high-end electronic gadgets along with a significant sum of money, totaling N1.6 million and $5,000. Specifically, the prosecution mentioned that valuable items acquired through these deceptions included a MacBook Pro 14 laptop and an iPhone 17 Pro Max.

This case highlights the increasing prevalence of cyber crimes in Nigeria, particularly as they pertain to social media platforms. The ramifications of such crimes extend beyond individual victims; they also pose significant challenges for law enforcement agencies in combating digital fraud. Akpama's actions underscore a growing trend of impersonation and identity theft, warranting tougher measures to safeguard against such fraudulent schemes in the digital age.