Two internet fraudsters, Tobilola Ibrahim Bakare and Alimi Seun Sikiru, have been convicted by a Lagos State High Court following a suit by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The convicts forfeited over N200 million and properties in the upscale Lekki axis of Lagos to the Federal Government.
The forfeited assets include the sum of N203 million in bank accounts, two vehicles, a five bedroom duplex; a four bedroom semi-detached duplex and another four bedroom semi-detached duplex all situated in Lekki, Lagos.
The two vehicles were valued at N30 million with the three duplexes valued at N230 million.
A 27-year-old indigene of Ijebu Ode in Ogun State, Bakare, claimed his forte is business email compromise and confessed to have hacked into different companies outside the shores of Nigeria and the accounts of KLM, Turkish Airlines and British Airways.
The second defendant, Sikiru, in his statement to the EFCC, admitted that majority of the funds found in his account were from the first defendant, Bakare.
The fraudsters were charged with conspiracy and retaining stolen property, an offence contrary to Sections 411 and 328 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State.
The duo pleaded guilty to the five-count amended charges preferred against them.
Justice O. A Taiwo of the Lagos State High Court, in her judgment, noted that the action of the defendants was “responsible for giving Nigeria a bad image globally, whereby the average Nigerian is looked upon as being untrustworthy and fraudulent”.
She convicted and sentenced Bakare, to three years imprisonment on counts 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5, with the option of fine of N3 million.
Justice Taiwo also convicted and sentenced Sikiru, to three years imprisonment on counts 1 and 5 with an option of fine of N1 million.