Court jails BDC operator, internet fraudster in Kwara

The Federal High Court in Ilorin, Kwara State, has sentenced a Bureau de Change (BDC) operator, Musa Buba, and an internet fraudster, Akinwale Olamilekan, to 300 hours of community service each, to be served at a rate of five hours per day, without the option of a fine.

Justice Abimbola Awogboro delivered the verdict after both individuals pleaded guilty to separate charges brought against them by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ilorin Zonal Directorate.

Musa Buba was convicted for operating a BDC business without a valid license from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

According to the charge presented against him: “That you, Musa Buba, sometime in July 2024 at Chikanda market, Yashikira district, Baruten Local Government Area, Kwara State, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did carry on the business of another financial institution, to wit: Bureau De Change Business, without a valid license issued by the Central Bank of Nigeria, contrary to Section 57 (1) & (2) of the Banks and Other Financial Institutions Act, 2020, and punishable under Section 57(5)(b) of the same Act.”

As part of the judgment, Buba was ordered to forfeit the sum of 409,500 CFA and ₦1,973,200, recovered from him at the time of his arrest, to the federal government.

Akinwale Olamilekan was found guilty of cybercrime, having impersonated a woman named “Mary Williams” to fraudulently obtain $950 from an unsuspecting victim, Mark Durham, via iMessage.

The charge against him read: “That you, Akinwale Olamilekan (Alias: Mary Williams), sometime in November 2024, within the judicial division of the Federal High Court, did fraudulently impersonate one Mary Williams via your iMessage account to obtain the sum of $950 from one Mark Durham, thereby committing an offence contrary to Section 22 (2)(b)(ii) of the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc.) Act and punishable under Section 22 (2)(b)(iv) of the same Act.”

Justice Awogboro also ordered the forfeiture of $450, which Akinwale had already restituted, as well as his iPhone 12 Pro Max, which was used to commit the crime.