Eight online scammers have been found guilty and given jail sentences by Federal High Court judge R.M. Aikawa in Kaduna. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Kaduna Zonal Directorate, prosecuted the convicted individuals, Ogar Joseph, Nanbut David Dauda, Abah Mathew Arome, Fasikun Lekan, Daniel John, Gideon Dennis, Friday Emmanuel, and Yusuf Hijelan, on a single count that bordered on money laundering, cybercrime, and impersonation. The charge against Dauda is as follows: “That sometime in April 2025 in Tammah, Nasarawa State, within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, you Nanbut David Dauda, (a.k.a. Hacktivist Legion) retained the total sum of $115.00 (one hundred and fifteen United States dollars) knowing that such fund forms part of the proceeds of an unlawful act and consequently committed an offense contrary to Section 18(2)(d) of the money laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022 and punishable under Section 18(3) of the same Act.” According to the charge against Arome, “Abah Mathew Arome (also known as Where is Hack) (m) retained the entire amount of $140.00 (one hundred and forty US dollars) sometime in April 2025 in Nasarawa State, within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, knowing that such funds form part of the proceeds of an unlawful act and thereby committed an offense contrary to Section 18(2)(d) of the money laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022 and punishable under Section 18(3) of the same Act.”
When their charges were read to them, they entered a plea of “guilty.” Prosecutor K.S. Ogunlade then prayed for the court to convict them and sentence them appropriately, while defense counsel asked the court to be lenient and show mercy, claiming that the fraudsters had changed their minds. Joseph was given two years in prison or a fine of N500,000.00 (five hundred thousand naira) by Justice Aikawa. Additionally, he turned over to the federal government the iPhone 16, which was the instrument of his crime, and $30, which was the money he made from it. He found Dauda, Arome, and Denis guilty and sentenced them to four years in prison or a fine of N400,000 (four hundred thousand naira) each. Additionally, the federal government received the instruments and proceeds of the crimes from Dauda, who forfeited a Samsung Galaxy S10 and $115 USD (one hundred and fifteen US dollars), Arome, who forfeited a Samsung Galaxy X9 Plus and $140.00 USD (one hundred and forty US dollars), Denis, who forfeited an iPhone 14 Pro, $100 USD (one hundred USD), and a Lucky Plus motorcycle with engine number 152FMH*1544839*.
Lekan was found guilty and given a five-year jail term or a fine of N400,000.00 (four hundred thousand naira). Additionally, he gave the federal government the iPhone 13 Pro Max and $120 (one hundred and twenty US dollars), which were the tools and the money used in the crimes, respectively. After being found guilty, John was given a five-year prison term or a fine of N500,000.00 (five hundred thousand naira). Furthermore, he turned over to the federal authority a Samsung Galaxy S21 and $115 (one hundred and fifteen US dollars), which were the means and the proceeds of the crimes, respectively.
After being found guilty, Emmanuel was given a jail sentence of two years or a fine of N300,000. To the federal government, he also turned over an iPhone 14 Pro, $422 (four hundred and twenty-two dollars), and a Senwei semi-silent power producing set, which were used in the crimes and the earnings of them, respectively. Hijelan was found guilty and either fined N400,000.00 (four hundred thousand naira) or imprisoned for three years. He also turned over his iPhone 14 Pro Max, which was the instrument of his crime, to the federal authority.
The convicts were arrested in Nasarawa state following intelligence gathering and trailing of the fraudulent individuals. They were all convicted with varrying charges according to the gravity of their crimes.
