By SODIQ OMOLAOYE, Abuja

Two convicted internet fraudsters, Tobilola Ibrahim Bakare and Alimi Seun Sikiru have lost cash and properties in the upscale Lekki axis of Lagos to the Federal Government.

This followed their arrest and successful prosecution by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC)

The forfeited assets include the sums of N196, 741, 216.82 and N7, 054, 852.01 in bank accounts; two vehicles, a Mercedes Benz E500 and a Toyota Hilux 2020.

Others are; a five-bedroom duplex situated at Ibrahim Eleto Street, Osopa London, Lekki, Lagos, a four-bedroom semi-detached duplex situated at Ologolo, Jakande, Lekki, Lagos, and another four bedroom semi-detached duplex in Southern View Estate, Mayor Court, Chevron Alternative Road, Lekki, Lagos.

The two vehicles are valued at N30million while the three duplexes are valued at N230million.

EFCC spokesperson, Wilson Uwujaren in a statement on Monday, said the fraudsters gave up the assets as they could not give a satisfactory explanation of the funds and properties linked to them, adding that they confessed to involvement in cybercrime.

Uwujaren said the convicts had been successful in their ignoble trade, earning a cumulative sum of $1million from victims including three foreign airlines through Business Email Compromise fraud.

They laundered the proceeds of crime in acquiring properties including real estate and luxury vehicles.

Uwujaren said:

“Life was good, but their comeuppance began in September 2020, when Operatives of the Commission, in the course of investigating a case of suspicious transactions and money laundering involving one Kehinde Adelakun, a convicted internet fraudster, stumbled on evidence linking Alvine International Resources Ventures, owned by the second defendant, Sikiru.

“The transaction that sets off the alarm bell was an inflow of N5million in two tranches from Alvine International Resources Ventures.

“Further probing by the investigators, revealed several inflows suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities in both the Sterling Bank and Polaris accounts of the second defendant.

“The balance in both accounts: N196, 741,216.82 in Sterling Bank and N7, 054,852.01 in Polaris Bank, were swiftly placed on a Post No Debit, to forestall dissipation of the funds pending the conclusion of investigation and determination of the case.

“The second defendant, in his statement to the Commission , admitted that majority of the funds found in his account were from the first defendant, Bakare, who confessed to being into Business Email Compromise, BEC, between 2009 and 2020 and also hacking into the accounts of KLM, Turkish Airlines and British Airways.”

The fraudsters were subsequently arraigned before Justice O. A Taiwo of the Lagos State High Court, Ikeja on a five-count amended charge bordering on conspiracy and retaining stolen property, an offence contrary to Sections 411 and 328 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State.

They pleaded ‘guilty’ to the charges preferred against them.

Delivering judgment, Justice Taiwo 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.

The Judge also convicted and sentenced Sikiru, to three years imprisonment on counts 1 and 5 with an option of fine of N1 million.

Justice Taiwo also held that the properties recovered from the first defendant be forfeited to the Federal Government.

The Judge further held that the sums of N196, 741, 216.82 were recovered from the second defendant’s company, Alvine International Resources Ventures account domiciled in Sterling Bank and N7, 054, 852. 01 recovered from the second defendant’s account domiciled in Polaris Bank be forfeited to the FG.

Two vehicles, a Mercedes Benz E500 and a Toyota Hilux 2020 recovered from the first defendant were also ordered forfeited to the Federal Government. (The Guardian)

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