The Ilorin Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), has secured the conviction of Abubakar Suleiman, a 51-year-old from Burya village in Baruten Local Government Area of Kwara State, for operating a Bureau De Change business without a valid license issued by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
The Directorate also secured the conviction of one Lawal Farauq from Offa Local Government Area of Kwara State over cybercrime-related offences.
Justice Abimbola Awogboro of the Federal High Court, Ilorin, convicted and sentenced both individuals, who were charged separately, after finding merit in the prosecution’s cases.
The charge against Abubakar reads:
“That you, Abubakar Suleiman, sometime in May, 2024 at Chikanda Market, Yashikira District, Baruten Local Government Area, Kwara State, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did carry on, other financial business to with: Bureau De Change Business without a valid licence issued by the Central Bank of Nigeria contrary to Section 57 (5) of the Bank and other Financial Institutions Act, 2020 and punishable under Section 57 (5) (B) of the Act”
Particulars of the charge against Lawal read:
“That you, Lawal Farauq sometime in September 2023 within the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court, fraudulently impersonated one Johanna Smith via your imessenger account with intent to obtain money from one Mark Dewitt which you did obtain the sum of Seventy Dollars and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 22 (2) of Cybercrime (Prohibition Prevention) Act, 2015 and punishable under Section 22 (2) (b)(iv) of the same Act”
The defendants pleaded guilty to their respective charge.
Following their guilty pleas, EFCC prosecutors, Aliyu Adebayo and Andrew Akoja, through witnesses who are investigators in the Commission presented evidence, including extra-judicial statements and monetary exhibits recovered at the time of the arrests.
Satisfied that the prosecution had sufficiently proven the cases, Justice Awogboro convicted the defendants and sentenced them to various jail terms.
The judge sentenced Abubakar to 300 hours of community service at five hours per day, ordering him to report to the court with a discharge certificate upon completion.
Additionally, the court ordered the final forfeiture of CFA 3,360,000; N220,000, and N71,000 in counterfeit naira notes to the Federal Government.
In the same vein, Lawal also bagged 200 hours of community service at five hours per day. The court also ordered the forfeiture of an iPhone 6s Plus used to commit the crime and the $70 he fraudulently obtained.
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