Court sentences International fraudster Olatunji to 235 years imprisonment

Scales Olatunji, a well-known worldwide fraudster, was found guilty by a Federal High Court in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, of offences related to computer fraud and money laundering. The Calabar Division of the Court of Appeal maintained this decision.

On June 27, 2022, Olatunji was found guilty by Justice Agatha Okeke of the 45 counts of online fraud and money laundering that the Uyo Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Commission, EFCC, had brought against him. Olatunji was sentenced to 235 years in prison without the possibility of a fine.

Following the receipt of a petition from the Oslo Police District in Norway for the Commission's help in looking into a group of Nigerian citizens who had been defrauding Norwegians on a regular basis, the defendant was charged.

Investigations revealed that the convicted person belonged to an online fraud gang with a focus on business email compromise, or BEC.

Olatunji stole $525,172,580 from the Norwegian government and its inhabitants. He bought opulent homes in desirable locations of Lagos State with the money earned from the crime.

The violation of Section 18(a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act 2011 (as amended) and the associated punishment under Section 15(3) of the same Act constitute the offence.

Olatunji, who was not pleased with the decision, went to the appellate court, where he presented 11 reasons for the appeal and asked the court to overturn Justice Okeke's decision.

The EFCC's legal representative, Nwandu Ukoha, pleaded with the court to accept the lower court's decision and dismiss the appeal on the basis that "the prosecution proved its case beyond reasonable doubts" in his opposition to the appeal.

Olatunji's conviction was confirmed and his appeal was denied by the three-person panel, which rendered its decision on Friday and was chaired by Justice Muhammed Baba Idris.

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