The Calabar Division of the Court of Appeal has upheld the 235-year jail sentence pronounced on a cyber fraudster, Mr. Scales Olatunji.
Olatunji was convicted for internet fraud and money laundering by a Federal High Court, sitting in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.
Spokesman for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr. Wilson Uwujaren said in a statement issued yesterday that the three-man panel of the court led by Justice Muhammed Baba Idris, upheld the sentence during its sitting last Friday, June 23.
Recall that Justice Agatha Okeke had on June 27, 2022 found Olatunji guilty of 45 count charges bordering on internet fraud and money laundering preferred against him by the Uyo Zonal Command of the EFCC and sentenced him to 235 years imprisonment, without an option of a fine.
The convict was prosecuted, following the receipt of a petition by Oslo Police District, Norway, requesting the assistance of the commission to investigate a network of Nigerian citizens, who had serially duped some Norwegians.
Investigations showed that the convict belonged to a syndicate of internet fraudsters who specialised in Business Email Compromise.
He was found to have defrauded the Norwegian government and its citizens to the tune of N525, 172, 580.
He used the proceeds of the crime to purchase luxury properties in choice areas within Lagos State.
The offence is in contravention of the provisions of Section 18 (a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act 2011 (as amended) and punishable under Section 15 (3) of the same Act.
Dissatisfied with the judgment, the convict approached the appellate court, where he raised 11 grounds of appeal and prayed the court to set aside the judgment of Justice Okeke.
Arguing against the appeal, counsel for the EFCC, Mr. Nwandu Ukoha prayed the court to uphold the judgment of the lower court and dismiss the appeal on the grounds that “the prosecution proved its case beyond reasonable doubts.”