EFCC secures 50-year jail term for £15,000 fraudster, arraigns Kaduna lawyer for false information

From Sola Ojo, Abuja

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), yesterday, recorded major strides in its anti-corruption campaign with the conviction of a fraudster in Lagos and the arraignment of a lawyer in Kaduna for giving false information.

In Lagos, Justice Ismail Ijelu of the State High Court, Ikeja, convicted and sentenced Osaibovo Charles to 50 years’ imprisonment for offences bordering on conspiracy, obtaining money by false pretence, stealing, possession of fraudulent documents and money laundering.

Charles was prosecuted by the EFCC Lagos Zonal Directorate on a six-count charge after he fraudulently obtained £15,000 from a victim, Miss Shenika Garati, by impersonating popular Nigerian actor Fredrick Leonard and claiming the funds were needed for a film production.

Justice Ijelu found him guilty on all counts brought before him except for retention of proceeds of crime, for which he was discharged and acquitted.

The judge imposed sentences of 14 years each for conspiracy and obtaining money by false pretence, five years for stealing, another 14 years for possession of fraudulent documents, and three years for money laundering.

The terms are to run concurrently. The court also ordered restitution of £15,000 to the victim.

In a separate development in Kaduna, the EFCC arraigned Barrister Steve Adamu before Justice Darius Khobo of the Kaduna State High Court on a one-count charge of providing false information to the Commission.

Adamu was accused of wilfully supplying information he knew to be false in a petition alleging that his landlord had no legitimate means of income despite acquiring expensive vehicles and developing properties.

EFCC investigations, however, found the claims to be untrue and malicious.

The defendant pleaded not guilty. Justice Khobo ordered his remand in the Nigerian Correctional Centre and adjourned the case to December 20, 2025, for hearing of the bail application.

Both actions were confirmed in statements by theHead of Media and Publicity of the EFCC, Dele Oyewale.