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A Federal High Court in Lagos has sentenced Courage Ipaka, who impersonated Nigerian singer Flavour, to two years in prison for defrauding a United States-based woman, Yvelte M. Thompson, of $53,000.
Ipaka used the singer’s identity to deceive Thompson, promising to organize shows in the U.S. and accepting payment through his Bitcoin wallets. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) led the investigation, revealing that Ipaka converted the funds into Naira and deposited them into his Access Bank account.
Following a petition from Eyitayo Tolulope Abiodun on behalf of Thompson, the EFCC discovered that Flavour was not involved in the scam. The investigation traced the fraud back to Ipaka, who admitted to impersonating the singer in 2021.
EFCC investigator Azibagiri Dan Ekpar stated, “The sum of N7.9 million was recovered from the defendant through Zenith and Access Bank manager’s cheques.” Presiding Judge Dehinde Dipeolu sentenced Ipaka to two years in prison with an option to pay a N2 million fine. Additionally, the court ordered the forfeiture of N7.9 million to the victim, Thompson.
