Scales Olatunji, an Nigerian internet fraudster, was given a 235 years jail term for online fraud and money laundering.
Olatunji, who pleaded “not guilty” upon his arraignment in July 2019 on 45-count charges, was found guilty and sentenced by Justice Agatha Okeke of the Federal High Court.
Giving the judgement, Justice Agatha said: “That you, Scales Olatunji Ishola “M”, Meraiyebu Charles “M”(at large), Gabriel Adeyemi Olugbenga “M”(at large), Ojomo Oluwatobi Ayodele “M”(at large) and Adekola Oluwatoyin “M”(at large), between January 2017 to October 2018 converted N525,172,580”.
The stolen funds, which violates Section 18(a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act 2011 (as amended) and is punishable under Section 15(3) of the same Act, (business email compromise and identity theft).
Additionally, on or around May 15, 2018, Olatunji wrote emails to Monica Goulmoen of the Charity Association in support of constructing a football field for Kobane’s children using the email address emailoffice01@aol.com.
He requested $64,000 and got it by posing as former Norwegian Football Association President Per Ravn Omdal.
The offense violates Section 22 (3)(b) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc) Act 2015 and is penalized under Section 22 (4) of the same Act.
Ruling on the case, Justice Agatha found Olatunji guilty of all 45 count charges leveled against him by the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC).
Read: Banking Sector Frauds Mainly Perpetrated By Insiders – EFCC
According to the judge, the prosecution proved his guilt by using witnesses whose testimony was consistent throughout.
In relation to counts six through forty-five of the charges, the prosecution was also successful in establishing the crime of cybercrime.
Olatunji was given a sentence of seven years in jail on counts 1 to 5, and five years in prison on counts 6 to 45.
The sentence will start to serve as of the day of arrest. Through the EFCC, the money in his account would be distributed to the affected Norwegian people.
Properties owned by Olatunji in Lekki, including House No. 6 in Road 2 West-end Estate in Ikota and House No. 10 in Donatus Odum Street, would be auctioned, with the money going to the victims.
Following the convict’s capture on March 20, 2019, at his Ikota home, the EFCC opened an investigation. The move was in response to a petition from the Norwegian Oslo Police District.
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