The Ilorin Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has secured the conviction of two individuals, Abubakar Suleiman and Lawal Farauq, for operating a Bureau De Change (BDC) without a licence and cybercrime-related offences, respectively.

Justice Abimbola Awogboro of the Federal High Court, Ilorin, delivered the sentences on Tuesday, March 25, 2025, after both defendants pleaded guilty to separate one-count charges.

Suleiman was charged with operating a BDC business without a valid license from the Central Bank of Nigeria, a violation of Section 57(5) of the Banks and Other Financial Institutions Act, 2020.

Farauq was charged with fraudulently impersonating “Johanna Smith” via his Messenger account to defraud “Mark Dewitt” of $70, an offence contrary to Section 22 (2) of the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention) Act, 2015.

Following their guilty pleas, EFCC prosecutors Aliyu Adebayo and Andrew Akoja presented evidence, including extra-judicial statements and monetary exhibits, through witnesses who were investigators in the case.

Justice Awogboro, satisfied with the prosecution’s evidence, convicted both defendants.

Suleiman was sentenced to 300 hours of community service, to be served at five hours per day. He was also ordered to forfeit CFA 3,360,000, N220,000, and N71,000 in counterfeit Naira notes to the federal government.

Farauq received a sentence of 200 hours of community service, also to be served at five hours per day.

He was ordered to forfeit an iPhone 6s Plus, used in the commission of the crime, and the $70 he fraudulently obtained.

Both defendants were arrested by EFCC operatives for their involvement in financial crimes.