By Nkechi Eze
Justice K. Dagat of the Federal High Court in Maiduguri, Borno State, on Tuesday, June 17, 2025, convicted and sentenced two individuals, Samuel Okoro and Lucky Dauda, to eight years imprisonment each for offences relating to money laundering and impersonation.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), through its Maiduguri Zonal Directorate, arraigned both defendants on separate two-count charges. This was disclosed in an official statement issued by the Commission’s spokesperson.
According to the charge against Okoro, between 2022 and 2024 in Maiduguri, he took possession of funds linked to fraudulent activities involving foreign nationals such as Charlotte, Sajid Ali Jaan, Carrie Gurthrie, and Ruben Rodriguez. The illicit funds were obtained through Cash App and gift cards amounting to $4,000 (Four Thousand United States Dollars). Upon conversion, the sum totaled approximately N5,000,000.00 (Five Million Naira), which was paid into his First Bank account number 3187995774. The EFCC stated that Okoro either knew or should have known the funds were proceeds of unlawful activity. His action contravened Section 18(2)(d) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, and is punishable under Section 18(3) of the same Act.
In the case of Dauda, the charge indicated that between 2020 and 2024, he took possession of $20,615 (Twenty Thousand, Six Hundred and Fifteen United States Dollars), derived from Cash App, Google Play, Visa, Walmart, PayPal, and other gift cards. These proceeds were traced to his Guaranty Trust Bank account number 0165705344. The EFCC noted that Dauda was fully aware, or should have reasonably known, that the funds were linked to fraudulent activities, thereby violating the same provisions of the Money Laundering Act cited in Okoro’s case.
Upon reading the charges, both defendants pleaded guilty.
Prosecuting counsel, Abdulmalik D. Aliyu, urged the court to convict them as charged. In response, defence counsels O.C. Nwankwo and A. Musa appealed to the court to show leniency in sentencing.
Justice Dagat thereafter found them guilty and sentenced each of them to four years imprisonment on both counts, with the option of paying a fine of N100,000.00 (One Hundred Thousand Naira) per count.
In addition, the judge ordered the forfeiture of all illicit gains including the sums received, as well as mobile devices used in committing the crimes an iPhone 15 Pro Max, Samsung Galaxy A34, and Samsung Galaxy S to the Federal Government of Nigeria.
The EFCC noted that their arrest followed credible intelligence on their involvement in fraudulent internet activities in Maiduguri, marking the beginning of their journey to justice.
