The Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos, has convicted and sentenced two fraudsters, Agboola Abdullahi Abiodun and Victor Okonjo, for money laundering and fraudulent impersonation.
Justice F.N. Ogazi convicted the two men following their separate arraignments by the Lagos Zonal Directorate 1 of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Agboola was arraigned on a three-count charge bordering on money laundering and cybercrime offences.
One of the counts alleged that sometime in 2025 in Lagos, he disguised part of the origin of his illicit gains from a dating scam by converting the proceeds into a black Toyota Venza.
Victor Okonjo
Okonjo, on his part, faced a two-count charge. One of the counts alleged that he fraudulently impersonated Aaron Bauer, a male citizen of the United States, with the intention of gaining an advantage for himself.
Both defendants pleaded guilty to the charges when they were read to them.
Following their pleas, EFCC 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 and sentenced Agboola to four years imprisonment on count one, one year on count two and one year on count three.
Okonjo was sentenced to one year imprisonment with an option of N500,000 fine on count one and four years imprisonment on count two.
The court ordered that all the prison terms imposed on the convicts should run concurrently, effective from the dates of their respective arrests.
Justice Ogazi further ordered the forfeiture of the convicts’ mobile phones, laptops, a Toyota Venza and a 2020 Mercedes-Benz to the Federal Government of Nigeria.
The judge directed that the forfeited assets be sold and the proceeds returned to the victims.
However, where the victims could not be traced, the court ordered that the proceeds from the sale be paid into the coffers of the Federal Government.
The EFCC said the convictions underscore its continued efforts to prosecute individuals involved in cybercrime, fraudulent impersonation and laundering of proceeds of illegal activities.
