EFCC Convicts 2 Men Over Money Laundering, Fraudulent Impersonation in Lagos
Kehinde Adeleye
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Lagos Zonal Directorate 1, has secured the conviction of 2 men for money laundering and fraudulent impersonation before the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos.
The convicts, Agboola Abdullahi Abiodun and Victor Okonjo, were separately arraigned before Justice F.N. Ogazi on charges bordering on money laundering and cybercrime offences.
Agboola faced a 3 count charge, including an allegation that he laundered proceeds obtained through a dating scam.
One of the counts alleged that he disguised part of the proceeds of his illicit activities by converting them into a black Toyota Venza in 2025.
Okonjo, on the other hand, was arraigned on a 2 count charge. One of the counts accused him of fraudulently impersonating 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 in court.
Following their pleas, the prosecution 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 handed down their respective sentences.
Agboola was sentenced to 4 years’ imprisonment on count 1, while he received 1 year each on counts 2 and 3.
Okonjo was sentenced to 1 year’s imprisonment with an option of N500,000 fine on count 1 and 4 years’ imprisonment on count 2.
The court ordered that the sentences should run concurrently, effective from the dates of their arrests.
Justice Ogazi also ordered the forfeiture of the convicts’ mobile phones, laptops, a Toyota Venza and a 2020 Mercedes Benz to the Federal Government.
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 be paid into the coffers of the Federal Government of Nigeria.
