Judicial Authorities in Kaduna Sentenced Eight Individuals for Internet and Bank

In a recent development, the Federal High Court in Kaduna, presided over by Justice R.M.Aikawa, has convicted and sentenced eight individuals for internet and bank fraud. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Kaduna Zonal Directorate prosecuted the accused, who were identified as Abdulrasheed Dayyabu, Abdulrahman Salim, Abubakar Ali Uba, Falalu Tanko, Ishaq Haruna, Muhammad Faisal, Muhammad Sani Ahmed, and Hassan Umar.

Dayyabu was found guilty of aiding Buhari in the retention of proceeds of criminal conduct, an offense contrary to the Money Laundering (Prevention & Prohibition) Act of 2022. Tanko's charge involved the retention of $3,000, which he knew was derived from unlawful activities.

All eight defendants pleaded guilty to the one-count charges brought against them, which encompassed impersonation, money laundering, and unauthorized bank transfers. Upon their pleas, prosecution counsel Fortune Amina Iminabo Asemebo urged the court to impose the appropriate penalties.

Justice Aikawa sentenced Dayyabu to four years in prison or a fine of N100,000 ($240), along with the forfeiture of N300,000 ($720) to the government. Uba, Salim, Haruna, Faisal, Ahmed, and Umar each received four-year sentences or a fine of N200,000 ($480) and were also ordered to forfeit varying sums of money and properties acquired from their illicit activities. Tanko was sentenced to three years in prison or a fine of N300,000 ($720) and had his BMW car and iPhone 13 Pro confiscated as proceeds and tools of his crime.

The arrests were made following a complaint from Taj Bank regarding unauthorized transactions and system exploitation that resulted in the transfer of over N1 billion ($2.4 million) to various bank accounts and fintech platforms. The accused reportedly took advantage of a system glitch in the bank's agency banking platform to perpetrate their fraudulent activities.

This case serves as a strong reminder of the ongoing efforts by the EFCC to combat internet and bank fraud in Nigeria. The convictions and sentencings highlight the serious consequences that await those who engage in such illicit practices.