A Federal High Court in Lagos has sentenced two men to jail for money laundering and fraudulent impersonation linked to cybercrime offences.
The two men were convicted before Justice F.N. Ogazi of the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos, after the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) prosecuted them on separate charges.
The convicts, Agboola Abdullahi Abiodun and Victor Okonjo, were separately prosecuted by the anti-graft agency on charges involving proceeds of a dating scam and fraudulent impersonation.
Agboola faced a three-count charge, including allegations that he disguised part of the proceeds of his unlawful activity by acquiring a Black Toyota Venza.
The charge stated: “That you AGBOOLA ABDULLAHI ABIODUN sometime in 2025 in Lagos within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, indirectly disguised part of the origin of your illicit gain accrued from your unlawful act to wit: dating scam, to a Black Toyota Venza, which property forms part of the proceeds of your unlawful activity.”
Okonjo, on his part, was prosecuted on a two-count charge, including an allegation that he impersonated Aaron Bauer, a male citizen of the United States, to gain an advantage for himself.
The charge read: “That you, VICTOR OKONJO, sometime in 2025, in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court fraudulently impersonated one Aaron Bauer a male citizen from United States of America by holding yourself out as such, with the intent to gain advantage for yourself.”
Both defendants pleaded guilty after the charges were read to them.
Following their pleas, prosecution counsel, F.B. Orilade, reviewed the facts of the cases and urged the court to convict and sentence the defendants.
Justice Ogazi subsequently found both men guilty and imposed separate prison terms.
Agboola received four years on count one, one year on count two and one year on count three, while Okonjo was sentenced to one year with an option of N500,000 fine on count one and four years on count two.
The court ordered that the prison terms should run concurrently, effective from the dates of their arrests.
Justice Ogazi also ordered the forfeiture of the convicts’ mobile phones, laptops, a Toyota Venza and a 2020 Mercedes-Benz to the Federal Government.
The judge directed that the forfeited assets be sold and the proceeds returned to the victims.
She further ordered that where the victims could not be traced, the proceeds from the sales should be paid into the coffers of the Federal Government of Nigeria.