Story from Kenneth AFOR, Lagos
Justice O. A Taiwo of the Lagos State High Court on Monday has ordered two suspected internet fraudsters to forfeit over N200 million in cash, luxury cars and posh properties valued at N260 million to the Federal Government of Nigeria after they were unable to substantiate how they acquired the said properties and funds linked to them.
The suspects, Tobilola Ibrahim Bakare and Alimi Seun Sikiru were recently arrested by operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Bakare, 27, an indigene of Ijebu Ode, Ogun State claimed his forte is Business Email Compromise, and that he had hacked into different companies outside the shores of Nigeria.
They have confessed to being involved in cybercrime, 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; five-bedroom duplex situated at Ibrahim Eleto Street, Osapa 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 N30 million while the three duplexes are valued at N230 million.
According to reports, the scammers had been successful in their ignoble trade, earning a cumulative sum of $1million USD 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.
During the cause of the investigation, in September 2020, operatives of the Commission while 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 set off the alarm bell was an inflow of N5 million 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 charged before Justice 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.
One of the counts reads: “Tobilola Ibrahim Bakare and Alimi Seun Sikiru, sometime in 2020 in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, conspired to commit felony to wit: retaining cumulative sum of about $1,000.000,00( One Million United States of America Dollars ) property of KLM, Turkish Airways and British Airways.”
Another count reads: “Tobiloba Ibrahim Bakare and Alimi Seun Sikiru, sometime in 2020 in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, with a dishonest intent, retained four-bedroom detached duplex situated at Ologolo Jakande, Lekki, Lagos.”
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 a fine of N3m (Three Million Naira).
The Judge also convicted and sentenced Sikiru, to three years imprisonment on counts 1 and 5 with an option of a fine of N1 million (One Million Naira).
Justice Taiwo also held that the five-bedroom duplex situated at Ibrahim Eleto Street, Osopa London, Lekki, Lagos, 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 recovered from the first defendant be forfeited to the Federal Government.
The Judge further held that the sums of N196, 741, 216.82 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 Federal Government.
Two vehicles, a Mercedes Benz E500 and a Toyota Hilux 2020 recovered from the first defendant were also ordered forfeited to the Federal Government, also houses at:
No 31, Alhaji Mudashiru Eletu Way, Osopa London, Eti-Osa, Lekki, Lagos
No. 13, AbdulRahman Oseni Street, Ocean Breeze Estate , Ologolo , Jakande, Lekki, Lagos
House 2B, Bamidele Majiyagbe Street, Southern View, Chevy View, Lekki, Lagos.
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