N525m fraud: Court jails man 235 years

*As Police arrest gatekeeper for impregnating boss teenage daughter

N525m fraud: Court jails man 235 years

Justice Agatha Okeke of a Federal High Court, Akwa Ibom State, has convicted and sentenced a notorious international fraudster, Scales Olatunji, to 235 years imprisonment for internet fraud and money laundering.

Olatunji was arraigned on July 2, 2019 on 45-count charges bordering on identity theft, money laundering and conspiracy.

He pleaded “not guilty” to the charges, thus setting the stage for his trial.

One of the counts reads: “That you, Scales Ishola “M”, Meraiyebu Charles “M”(at large), Gabriel Olugbenga “M”(at large), Ojomo  Ayodele “M”(at large) and Adekola Oluwatoyin “M”(at large), between January 2017, to October 2018, in Nigeria, within the jurisdiction of this court conspired amongst yourselves to convert the total sum of N525.17million,  which sum you reasonably ought to have known forms part of proceeds of unlawful activities to wit: fraud (Business E-mail Compromise and Identity Theft), and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 18 (a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act 2011 (as amended) and punishable under Section 15 (3) of the same Act.”

EFCC‘s counsel, Nwandu Ukoha, opened the case on November 7, 2019, and subsequently tendered 35, exhibits through four prosecution witnesses, which were all admitted in evidence against the defendant. He closed the case on January 29, 2021, for the defence to open its defence.

Both the prosecution and defence counsel adopted their written addresses in October 2021, before the court adjourned for judgment.

Delivering judgment on June 27, 2022, Justice Okeke convicted Olatunji on all the 45 counts preferred against him by the EFCC. 

Justice Okeke said that: “The evidence of the prosecution witnesses are consistent and the prosecution established the guilt of the defendant in the case of money laundering as it relates to count one to five of the charges. The prosecution also established the guilt of the defendant in the offence of cybercrime as it relates to count six to forty five of the charges. The prosecution, on the totality of evidence before this court, proved the charges against the defendant.”

The judge sentenced Olatunji to seven years imprisonment on counts one to five, and five years imprisonment on counts six to 35. 

Police arrest gatekeeper for impregnating boss teenage daughter

A 20-year-old gateman, Samuel Maikasuw, has been arrested by police operatives of the Lagos State Command for impregnating his boss’ 15-year-old daughter in Igbogbo area of Ikorodu, Lagos.

Maikasuw, who hails from Abaji in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, was arrested, yesterday when an official of Advocate for Children and Vulnerable Person’s Network notified the police.

It was learned that Maikasuw was once caught molesting the victim sometime last year while working as a security man at Ms Fadiji’s house. However, he was severely warned never to come near the teenager again.

However, Maikasuw was later transferred to the landlord’s wife’s shop who later converted him to a sales boy.

Culled from Vanguard