A Kogi State High Court sitting in Lokoja has sentenced 23-year-old Yusuf Salawu, from Okene Local Government Area of Kogi State to five years imprisonment without option of fine over offences bordering on control of proceeds of crime.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) disclosed this in a Tuesday statement.
The EFCC said Justice Josiah Majebi found Salawu guilty of one count charge preferred against him by the Ilorin Zonal Command of the commission.
The charge reads: “That you, Yusuf Salawu, sometime between the year 2021 and 2022 in Lokoja within the Judicial Division of the Kogi State High Court did knowingly had under your control the gross sum of N56,317,760 (Fifty Six Million, Three Hundred and Seventeen Thousand, Seven Hundred and Sixty Naira Only ) being part of the gross sum of N116,685,719 (One Hundred and Sixteen Million, Six Hundred and Eighty Five Thousand, Seven Hundred and Nineteen Naira Only) which is reasonably suspected to be have been unlawfully obtained and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 320 of the Penal Code.”
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He pleaded guilty to the charge.
Upon his plea, counsel to the EFCC, Andrew Akoja prayed the court to convict the defendant as charged.
In his judgment, Justice Majebi held that the prosecution had established a prima-facie case against the defendant to warrant his conviction.
The court in passing sentence took into consideration the allocutus made by Yusuf’s counsel and sentenced him to 5 years imprisonment term.
The judge, who decried youth involvement in cybercrime, warned them to desist from the act as the consequences were dire.