Yakubu Aminu has been sentenced to 200 hours of community service for operating a bureau de change without a valid license from the Central Bank of Nigeria . This verdict was handed down by Justice Abimbola Awogboro of the Federal High Court in Ilorin.
Additionally, Abdulahi Abdulrasaq Omotosho and Akeem Ibrahim Salaudeen were also convicted for their involvement in internet fraud-related crimes by Justice Hammed Gegele of the Kwara State High Court . The Ilorin Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had brought the trio to court on separate charges on October 9, 2024 .
This isn’t the first time the EFCC has secured convictions for internet-related crimes in Ilorin. Recently, five individuals were jailed for internet fraud, with sentences ranging from six months to one year . The EFCC has been actively working to combat financial crimes in the region.
The charge against Akeem read: “That you, Akeem Ibrahim Salaudeen, between 3rd December 2018 and 8th November 2024, in Ilorin, Kwara State, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did knowingly have under your control the sum of N4,069,000.00 (four million, sixty-nine thousand naira only) in your bank account number 2104916025 with the name Akeem Ibrahim Salaudeen with the United Bank for Africa Plc, which you knew to be proceeds of criminal conduct, and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 319 (a) of the Penal Code Laws of Northern Nigeria.”
The three defendants—Yakubu Aminu, Abdulahi Abdulrasaq Omotosho, and Akeem Ibrahim Salaudeen—pleaded guilty to their respective charges and were subsequently convicted and sentenced to various jail terms.
The court’s verdict was based on:
1. Credibility of the cases presented
2. Unchallenged evidence from the prosecution
Three individuals, Yakubu Aminu, Abdulahi Abdulrasaq Omotosho, and Akeem Ibrahim Salaudeen, have been convicted and sentenced for internet-related fraud in Nigeria. Yakubu Aminu received 200 hours of community service and had 50,000 CFA and N368,500 forfeited to the Federal Government. Abdulahi Abdulrasaq Omotosho and Akeem Ibrahim Salaudeen were each sentenced to six months imprisonment with an option of N150,000 fine. Additionally, Akeem had N4,069,000, an iPhone 11, and Abdulahi had $600 and an iPhone 11 Pro Max .
