Crime

Ex-Afromedia Executive Sentenced to 7 Years for Multi-Million Naira Fraud

Published by Tope Fakinlede on July 13th, 2025.

Ex-Afromedia Executive Sentenced to 7 Years for Multi-Million Naira Fraud

A Lagos High Court in Ikeja has handed down a seven-year prison sentence to Alhaji Mohammed Gobir, a former director at Afromedia Plc, following his conviction in a major corporate fraud case.

Gobir was apprehended by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in September 2015 at his residence in Ikoyi, Lagos, after being linked to one of the most significant financial frauds in Nigeria’s business community.

Justice Raliat Adebiyi, delivering the verdict on Tuesday, July 8, 2025, found Gobir guilty on all 17 counts brought against him by the EFCC. The charges included theft, obtaining money under false pretences, forgery, and possession of fraudulent documents.

Investigators revealed that Gobir had falsely pledged to invest ₦1 billion in Afromedia but instead diverted large sums for personal use. The misappropriated funds included $3.5 million, ₦514.4 million, $2.1 million, and £51,000.

In her ruling, Justice Adebiyi described the fraud as a “serious violation of trust and a betrayal of fiduciary responsibility.” As part of the sentence, Gobir was ordered to pay restitution amounting to $1 million and ₦123 million. The judge also ruled that all prison terms would run concurrently.

The EFCC welcomed the decision, calling it a “landmark ruling” that reinforces the message that financial crimes will not go unpunished, regardless of the offender’s status.