The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has secured the conviction of Solomon Moses, a self-styled spiritualist who used a fake TikTok account to defraud an Indian national of $1,100 and blackmail her with a secretly recorded video. Justice C.N. Nwabulu of the Federal High Court in Abuja sentenced Moses to one year in prison on Tuesday, September 8, 2026, after he pleaded guilty to a one-count charge of cheating and impersonation.
EFCC Reveals How the Scam Unfolded
According to the EFCC statement released on Thursday, September 10, Moses posed as a spiritual leader on a fake TikTok account to lure his victim, identified as Sharon Kaur. He persuaded her to pay $1,100 for spiritual healing, which she did. Investigators confirmed that the convict received the money through his Zelle account, later converting it to naira and paying it into his local bank account.
After receiving the payment, Moses tricked Ms Kaur into performing a "naked spiritual bath" on a live video call. The EFCC said he secretly recorded the session and used the footage to extort her. "He threatened to publish the naked video online unless she sent more money," the commission stated. Records showed Ms Kaur eventually paid the $1,100 to stop the release of the clip.
Arrest and Court Proceedings
Moses was arrested in Ekpoma, Edo State, following a petition filed against him. At his arraignment, prosecution counsel Maryam Hayatudeen asked the court to convict him based on his guilty plea. Justice Nwabulu convicted Moses and sentenced him to one year's imprisonment, with an option of a N300,000 fine. The court also ordered that the $1,100 proceeds of the crime be forfeited to the victim through the EFCC.
EFCC Warns Against Online Impersonation
The EFCC described the case as another instance of cybercrime involving social media impersonation. The commission noted it has stepped up prosecution of internet fraud, including romance scams and blackmail, and urged the public to avoid online dealings with unverified "spiritual" accounts and to report such incidents to authorities.
