Crime

See How Kwara BDC Operator was Sentenced to 200 Hours of Community Service for Fraud

Published by Tope Fakinlede on October 16th, 2024.

See How Kwara BDC Operator was Sentenced to 200 Hours of Community Service for Fraud

Justice Abimbola Awogboro of the Federal High Court in Ilorin has sentenced Yakubu Aminu to 200 hours of community service, approximately nine days, for operating a Bureau de Change without a valid license. The court imposed this sentence without an option for a fine.

In a related case, Justice Hammed Gegele of the Kwara State High Court sentenced Abdulahi Abdulrasaq Omotosho and Akeem Ibrahim Salaudeen to six months in prison for their involvement in Internet fraud.

Dele Oyewale, head of Media and Publicity for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), announced the arraignment of the three defendants on separate charges on October 9, 2024.

The charge against Aminu states that he conducted Bureau de Change operations at Chikanda Market in Baruten Local Government Area without the necessary license from the Central Bank of Nigeria, violating the Banks and Other Financial Institutions Act, 2020.

Salaudeen was charged with having over N4 million in his bank account, knowing it to be proceeds from criminal activity, which also constitutes a violation of the Penal Code.

All three defendants pleaded guilty to their charges. The court based its decisions on the strong evidence presented by the prosecution.

Justice Awogboro mandated Aminu to complete his community service and ordered the forfeiture of 50,000 CFA and N368,500 seized during his arrest to the Federal Government. Meanwhile, Justice Gegele sentenced Omotosho and Salaudeen to six months in prison each, with a fine option of N150,000. The court also ordered the forfeiture of N4,069,000, an iPhone 11, and $600 recovered from them as proceeds of their crimes.