TikTok fraud: Impersonator bags 6-month jail term

A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, has sentenced Oluyide Mide to six months imprisonment for impersonating a person named Crystal on the social media platform TikTok and fraudulently obtaining 500 dollars.

Justice Emeka Nwite handed down the verdict, following Mide’s guilty plea to a one-count charge of impersonation and fraud.

Consequently, Nwite found Mide guilty as charged and convicted him

He sentenced Mide to six months’ imprisonment with an option of a N200,000 fine.

The judge had convicted and sentenced Mide after listening to both counsel.

The prosection counsel, Maryam Ahmed, had told the court that the defendant committed the offence sometime in 2025 in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of the court.

According to the charge, Mide fraudulently impersonated one Crystal via www.tiktok.com and in that assumed character, obtained the sum of 500 dollars from the victim through Opay Digital Services Ltd.

“You thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 22 (2)(b) of the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2015, as amended,” the charge stated.

Prosecution counsel urged the court to convict and sentence the defendant accordingly.

Mide’s counsel, Mr KUN Osemeha, pleaded for leniency, describing him as a first-time offender who had shown genuine remorse for his actions.

He urged the court to temper justice with mercy and to grant the defendant an option of fine.