The Calabar Division of the Court of Appeal upheld the conviction of Scales Olatunji, a notorious international fraudster found guilty of orchestrating a vast internet fraud and money laundering scheme, News About Nigeria reports.
The ruling, delivered on Friday, June 23, 2023, by a three-man panel led by Justice Muhammed Baba Idris, confirmed Olatunji’s 235-year prison sentence handed down by the Federal High Court in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.
Olatunji’s conviction followed an investigation initiated by the Uyo Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in response to a petition from the Oslo Police District in Norway. The Norwegian authorities sought the EFCC’s assistance in dismantling a network of Nigerian citizens who had defrauded several Norwegians.
Operating as part of a sophisticated syndicate specializing in Business Email Compromise (BEC), Olatunji and his accomplices scammed the Norwegian government and its citizens out of a staggering N525,172,580 (Five Hundred and Twenty-Five Million, One Hundred and Seventy-Two Thousand, Five Hundred and Eighty Naira). The illicit gains were funneled into the purchase of opulent properties in prime locations across Lagos State.
During the trial, Olatunji raised 11 grounds of appeal in a bid to overturn his conviction. However, the EFCC’s counsel, Nwandu Ukoha, firmly argued against the appeal, stating that the prosecution had irrefutably established the case against the fraudster. Ukoha urged the appellate court to uphold the judgment of Justice Agatha Okeke, who had initially found Olatunji guilty of forty-five counts of internet fraud and money laundering.
The Court of Appeal, after carefully considering the arguments presented, stood firmly by the lower court’s verdict, dismissing Olatunji’s appeal. The decision effectively seals the fraudster’s fate, leaving him with no option but to serve his extensive prison sentence.
The ruling sends a strong message to criminal syndicates engaging in cyber fraud, underscoring the resolve of Nigerian law enforcement agencies to combat and bring to justice those involved in internet scams. With this conviction, the EFCC continues to demonstrate its commitment to international cooperation and the protection of global financial systems.
As victims of Olatunji’s deceit seek closure, the outcome of this case serves as a reminder that the Nigerian judiciary will not tolerate such flagrant breaches of the law. The conviction stands as a testament to the tireless efforts of law enforcement agencies in curbing cybercrime and safeguarding the interests of innocent citizens, both domestically and abroad.
