Court Jails Man Three Years for Cybercrime in Lagos

Justice Ayokunle Faji of the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos, on Tuesday, July 1, 2025, convicted and sentenced one Mubarak Suleiman Olasukanmi to three years imprisonment for cybercrime.

He was arraigned on a two-count charge bordering on impersonation and cybercrime by the Lagos Zonal Directorate 2 of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.

His travail began following a petition received by the Commission from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, FBI, in 2023, alleging that he engaged in Business Email Compromise, BEC, and online romance scam.

Investigation by the FBI in February 2021 had revealed an attempt at BEC on the City of Aliso Viejo, California, where an employee received fraudulent emails purporting to be from Tovey/Shultz Construction Inc., a construction company.

The fraudulent email requested that Tovey/Shultz Construction Incorporation’s bank accounts be changed to Anoka Wellness’ bank account at Bank of California.

As a result of the email intersection, City of Aliso Viejo electronically wired $521,518.47 to Anoka Wellness’s bank account as a payment intended for Tovey/Shultz Construction, which was later recovered through the quick action of the Orange County Sheriff's Office, OCSD.

It was further revealed that to achieve this deception, several email addresses were used to obtain the fake domain name used to impersonate Tovey/Shultz and its associate’s email address.

About 26 other email addresses were used to create several apple accounts that were tied to one another through common names, addresses and the phone number belonging to Olasukanmi.

The count reads: “That you. MUBARAK SULAIMAN OLASUKANMI (Male), adult sometime in February, 2021 In Logas State, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, fraudulently impersonated one Jackie Love by holding yourself out as such on your Facebook Application with intent to gain advantage for yourself and you thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 22(2Y(5) of the Cybercrimes (Pronibition, Prevention. etc) Act, 2015.”

He pleaded “guilty” to the charges preferred against him.

Following his guilty plea, prosecution counsel, Hannatu U. KofarNaisa, called on Owolabi Oyarekhua, an investigator with the EFCC, to review the facts.

Oyarekhua told the court that the Commission received a petition from the FBI regarding the activities of the defendant.

He added that “Upon his arrest, one iphone 14 was recovered from the him.

“He volunteered his statement under caution, where he confessed that he was into internet fraud and that he specialized in romance scam.

He also involved in dating scam, where he opened profiles on Facebook, using foreign names and pictures. He wrote in his statement that he sent friend requests to foreigners and made friends with those who accepted his requests. He stated that if anyone fell in love with him, he would then request money from the unsuspecting victim. He explained that he presented himself as a female from Texas, USA, using the name Jackie love. He owns and uses the email addresses: jackmorris2573@gmail.com and mindset996@ gmail.com to chat with his victims on hangout.”

The prosecution counsel, thereafter, sought to tender the defendant’s extrajudicial statement, iPhone 14 and documents print out from his iPhone. They were all admitted and marked as exhibits.

Consequently, Justice Faji convicted and sentenced Olasukanmi to one year imprisonment on count 1, without an option of fine, and two years imprisonment on count 2, without an option of fine.

The sentences are to run concurrently, commencing from the date of his sentencing.

Alleged N110b Fraud: Court Adjourns Yahaya Bello’s Trial to July 8



Justice Maryanne Anenih of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Maitama, Abuja, on Wednesday, adjourned the N110 billion fraud trial of the immediate past Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, and two others until July 8; October 8 and 9; and November 12 and 13.



Bello is facing trial alongside Umar Oricha and Abdulsalami Hudu, on16-count charges bordering on criminal breach of trust and money laundering to the tune of N110.4 billion. The offence, according to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, is contrary to Sections 96 and 311 of the Penal Code Law Cap.89, Laws of Northern Nigeria, 1963, and punishable under Section 312 of the same law.



At the resumed hearing of the matter on Wednesday, EFCC first witness, Fabian Nwora completed his evidence. Nwora is the chairman of EFAB Property which handled the property that is the subject of the suit. He told the court that he opened negotiations on the said property but that the negotiation was concluded by Segun Adeleke, who is the EFCC second witness (PW2)



Nwora had, at a previous hearing, testified that he was invited to the EFCC on Feb. 8, 2023. He explained that it was in regard to a transaction between Shehu Bello and EFAB Property on a property located at No. 1 Ikogosi Street, Maitama. He noted that it was Mr Shehu who approached him about the property.



Adeleke, led by the prosecution counsel, Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, reiterated that, in 2020, his chairman, Nwora, gave him the brief on the property, which Shehu showed interest in. He said the deal was concluded and N500 million paid for the said property.



When asked further what happened afterwards, the witness said Bello returned to their office, with the agreement. “He told me that he was no longer interested in the property as a result of the EFCC investigation.

“My chairman said he would revert after consulting with our company secretary,” he said.



Pinheiro asked about some documents issued to one Nuhu Muhammed in respect of a property in the Gwarinpa area. The witness confirmed that the documents were issued to the said Muhammed after he purchased one of the units of the detached bungalows belonging to EFAB Property Limited.



At that point, Counsel for Mr Shehu and the second defendant Joseph Daudu, SAN, objected. He said “My lord, there is a clear disconnect between the documents sought to be tendered and the foundation laid by the witness himself.” The prosecution, however, said the objection was misconceived and it was subsequently overruled by the Judge.



Justice Anenih adjourned the case until July 8 and Oct 8, 2025, for continuation of hearing.

Burkina Faso Fifty-two detainees who benefited from good conduct have been mobilized to participate in the Faso Mebo initiative, a project aimed at building the country through various activities, including the beautification and reinforcement of recreational facilities. Under the initiative of the Commission for the Enforcement of Sentences, 52 prisoners of the Bobo-Dioulasso Detention and Correctional Center have been mobilized to participate in General Interest Work on the sites of Faso Mebo. According to Judge OUATTARA Bakary, the initiative's objectives include: Social repair: contribute to the improvement of the life of Bobo-Dioulasso residents. Socio-professional reintegration: acquisition of skills in cobblestone and pavement manufacturing. Self-value: strengthen a sense of belonging to the community. Reduction of prison overpopulation: by applying the principle of 1 month of TIG for 3 months of incarceration. #jaconnafrica #jajiotheteacher #africandiasporainternational #jagajagafrica #NTVNews #jtt #dayofremembranceandsorrow