The Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos, has convicted and sentenced two men over offences bordering on money laundering, fraudulent impersonation and cybercrime.
Justice F.N. Ogazi convicted Agboola Abdullahi Abiodun and Victor Okonjo following their separate arraignment by the Lagos Zonal Directorate 1 of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The two defendants pleaded guilty to the charges brought against them.
Agboola was arraigned on a three-count charge bordering on money laundering and related offences. One of the counts alleged that he disguised part of the proceeds of a dating scam by using the illicit proceeds to acquire a Black Toyota Venza.
Okonjo, on the other hand, faced a two-count charge, including fraudulent impersonation. The EFCC alleged that he impersonated Aaron Bauer, a male citizen of the United States, with the intention of gaining an advantage for himself.
Following their guilty pleas, prosecution counsel, F.B. Orilade, reviewed the facts of the cases and urged the court to convict and sentence the defendants accordingly.
Justice Ogazi subsequently found both men guilty.
Agboola was sentenced to four years imprisonment on count one, one year on count two and another one year on count three.
Okonjo received one year imprisonment with an option of ₦500,000 fine on count one and four years imprisonment on count two.
The court ordered that the prison terms imposed on both convicts should run concurrently from the dates of their arrest.
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 further directed that the forfeited assets be sold and the proceeds returned to the victims. Where the victims could not be traced, the proceeds are to be paid into the Federal Government coffers.
The convictions add to ongoing efforts by the EFCC to prosecute individuals accused of using cybercrime and other fraudulent schemes to obtain illicit financial gains.
