From Femi Mustapha, in Kaduna
A Federal High Court in Kaduna has sentenced four individuals to prison for various forms of fraud, including money laundering, impersonation, and cybercrime.
The convicts, Sadi Zangina, Ahmed Buhari, Khalifa Muazu Aliyu, and Olasode Abdulganiu, were arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on separate one-count charges.
According to the EFCC, Zangina, Buhari, and Aliyu were arrested following a petition from Taj Bank, which alleged that they exploited a system glitch in the bank and transferred over N1 billion to various banks and fintech platforms through unauthorized means.
Abdulganiu, on the other hand, was arrested in Minna, Niger State, for impersonating a UK citizen on Facebook and defrauding a victim of $150.
The court heard that Zangina aided one Ahmad Kabir to retain proceeds of criminal conduct, while Abdulganiu impersonated a UK citizen on Facebook to gain an advantage for himself. The convicts pleaded guilty to the charges, and the prosecution counsel prayed the court to convict and sentence them accordingly.
Justice R.M. Aikawa convicted and sentenced Zangina, Buhari, and Aliyu to four years imprisonment each, or to pay a fine of N200,000 each. In addition, they were ordered to forfeit the proceeds of their crime to the federal government, with Zangina forfeiting N200,000, Buhari N720,000, and Aliyu N800,000.
Abdulganiu was sentenced to three years’ imprisonment or to pay a fine of N300,000. He was also ordered to forfeit his iPhone 13 mobile phone and the sum of $150, being the tool and proceeds of his crime, to the federal government.
The EFCC’s Kaduna Zonal Directorate secured the conviction and sentence of the four individuals, marking a significant victory in the fight against financial crimes in the state. The court’s judgment serves as a deterrent to others who may be involved in similar activities.
