Two Internet Fraudsters Convicted In Lagos, Forfeit Assets To FG

Following a suit filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), two internet fraudsters, Tobilola Ibrahim Bakare and Alimi Seun Sikiru, were found guilty by a Lagos State High Court.

The prisoners gave the Federal Government about N200 million in cash and properties in Lagos’ posh Lekki axis.

The forfeited assets include N203 million in bank accounts, two vehicles, a five-bedroom duplex, a four-bedroom semi-detached duplex, and a fourth-bedroom semi-detached duplex, all of which are located in Lekki, Lagos.

The two automobiles were worth N30 million each, while the three duplexes were at N230 million each.

Bakare, a 27-year-old native of Ijebu Ode in Ogun State, claimed to specialize in corporate email compromise and admitted to hacking into several firms outside of Nigeria, including the accounts of KLM, Turkish Airlines, and British Airways.

In his statement to the EFCC, the second defendant, Sikiru, confirmed that the majority of the cash recovered in his account came from the first defendant, Bakare.

The scammers were charged with conspiring and retaining stolen goods, in violation of Lagos State Criminal Law Sections 411 and 328.

The two admitted to the five-count revised accusations brought against them.

In her verdict, Justice O. A Taiwo of the Lagos State High Court stated that the defendants’ actions were “responsible for giving Nigeria a bad image globally, whereby the average Nigerian is looked upon as being untrustworthy and fraudulent”.

Bakare was found guilty and sentenced to three years in prison on counts 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5, with a fine of N3 million as an option.

On counts 1 and 5, Justice Taiwo found Sikiru guilty and sentenced him to three years in jail, with a fine of N1 million as an option.