A gospel singer, Otitoju Moses Sesan, and eight others have been convicted and sentenced to various jail terms over internet-related fraud and financial crimes by different courts in Kwara State.
The convictions followed their separate arraignments by the Ilorin Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
In a statement released by the EFCC’s Head of Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale, the anti-graft agency disclosed that Justice Abimbola Awogboro of the Federal High Court in Ilorin, on Thursday, July 17, 2025, sentenced Otitoju, 31, to six months in prison without the option of a fine.
Otitoju, a gospel artiste from Iyamoye in Ijumu Local Government Area of Kogi State, was found guilty of retaining proceeds of unlawful activities totaling N8.4 million in his bank account.
According to the charge, “That you, OTITOJU MOSES SESAN, sometime between October 2024 and December 2025, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did retain control of the gross sum of N8,404,339 in your UBA account, being proceeds of criminal conduct, thereby committing an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 17(a) and (b) of the EFCC Act, 2004.”
The court also convicted three others — Ayodele Joseph Daisi, Adeoye Joseph, and Abubakar Aliyu Abdulmalik — who were prosecuted on similar charges.
Ayodele was sentenced to eight months imprisonment without the option of a fine for retaining N243,750 in his UBA account. His Tecno 19 phone was ordered forfeited to the Federal Government.
Adeoye, also from Kogi State, was sentenced to eight months in prison without the option of a fine. He forfeited $220, an iPhone 13, and a Tecno Pop 9 to the Federal Government.
Abubakar Aliyu received a six-month jail term, with the court ordering the forfeiture of his iPhone 16 and Samsung S10 to the government.
Prosecuting counsel for the EFCC — Aliyu Adebayo, Sesan Ola, Rashidat Alao, and Mustapha Kaigama — presented statements, recovered funds, and electronic evidence, all of which were admitted by the courts.
In a related development, Justices Haleema Saleeman and Sulaiman Akanbi of the Kwara State High Court also convicted five others: Emeka Oluwatobi Achi, Isaac Babalola Oluwafemi, Afolabi Faith Olatoye, Zubeiru Zubeiru Junior, and Abdulkadir Taofeek, for offences ranging from cybercrime to misappropriation of funds.
Justice Akanbi sentenced Abdulkadir to three years imprisonment with an option of N500,000 fine. The court also ordered the forfeiture of N800,000, an iPhone 14 Pro Max, and a Samsung phone to the Federal Government.
Justice Saleeman sentenced Emeka, Isaac, and Afolabi to six months each, with an option of N100,000 fine. Emeka was further directed to refund N3.35 million within three months and to report biweekly to the EFCC alongside his parents until the full repayment is made.
The EFCC reiterated its commitment to ridding the country of economic and financial crimes, warning that no one found guilty will be spared, regardless of profession or status.
Leave a Reply