A Kogi State High Court sitting in Lokoja has sentenced a 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 court, presided over by Justice Josiah Majebi, found Yusuf guilty of the one count charge preferred against him by the Ilorin Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.
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 being part of the gross sum of N116,685,719 which is reasonably suspected to have been unlawfully obtained and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 320 of the Penal Code.”
Yusuf Salawu, pleaded guilty to the charge.
Upon his plea, counsel to the EFCC, Andrew Akoja prayed the court to convict the defendant as charged.
Delivering judgement on Monday, Justice Majebi held that the prosecution had established a prima-facie case against the defendant to warrant his conviction.
The court, in passing the sentence took into consideration the allocutus made by Yusuf’s counsel and sentenced him to five years imprisonment.
The judge, who decried the youths involvement in cybercrime warned them to desist from the act as the consequences, is dire.
He said that the judgment would serve as deterrent to others of Yusuf’s ilk, a statement by the Head, Media and Publicity of the commission stated.