Court Jails Two Fraudsters For Money Doubling In Sokoto

Court jails two fraudsters for money doubling in Sokoto. Justice Muhammad Saidu Sifawa of Sokoto State High Court has convicted and sentenced Labaran Aliyu and Abdulraham Lawal to two years imprisonment each for cheating.

They were jailed on Wednesday, February 11, 2026 after pleading guilty to one -count separate charges of cheating.

The charge against Aliyu reads ” That you Labaran Aliyu, male, sometimes in 2025 within the jurisdiction of the High Court of Sokoto State with intent to defraud, fraudulently obtained the sum of N7,000,000.00 from unsuspecting victims under false pretense to wit: false representation of yourself as having power to double money and thereafter used the money to buy a Mercedes GLK with chassis number WDCGG8HB5AF315979, thereby committing an offence of cheating contrary to Section 310 of the Sokoto State Penal Code Law and punishable under Section 311 the same law”.

The charge against Lawal reads “That you Abdulrahman Lawal, male sometimes in 2025 within the jurisdiction of the High Court of Sokoto State, with intent to defraud, fraudulently obtained the sum of N110,000.00 from unsuspecting victims to wit: false representation of yourself as having power to double money thereby committing an offence of cheating contrary to Section 310 of the Sokoto State Penal Code Law and punishable under Section 311 the same law”.

The two defendants pleaded guilty to their charges, prompting prosecution counsel, Aliyu Bokani Usman to pray he court to convict and sentence them accordingly.

Court Jails Two Fraudsters

Justice Sifawa convicted and sentenced Aliyu to two years imprisonment with an option of ₦100,000.00 ( One Hundred Thousand Naira) fine. She also ordered the forfeiture of a Mercedes Benz GLK car acquired from the proceeds of crime to the victim.

The judge also convicted and sentenced Lawal to two years imprisonment with an option of ₦100,000.00( One Hundred Thousand Naira) fine. He forfeited a Samsung S10E phone, being a proceeds of crime to the government.

The convicts bagged their imprisonment when the EFCC charged them to court relying on its intelligence showing that both convicts belong to the infamous “sai mallam” cult operating within the Sokoto environment and infamous for enticing and cajoling unsuspecting members of the public under the guise of being powerful marabouts capable of making people wealthy.

They drew victims from Niger Republic, Cote d’ Ivoire, Cameroon and Burkina Faso.

EFCC-Linked Case: Facebook Commentator Arrested for Alleged False Claims

Michael Itok, a Facebook user known for his controversial online commentary, has been arrested by security authorities over alleged misinformation and defamatory publications.
According to sources, Itok is currently in custody at the Force Headquarters and is expected to be arraigned on multiple charges linked to recent posts made on his Facebook page.
His arrest follows a series of online publications concerning Victor Thompson, who was recently arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Uyo Zonal Directorate, on allegations of defrauding American investors of over $525,000 in what the Commission described as a fraudulent mineral and seaport investment scheme. The EFCC had, in a statement published on its official Facebook page on February 2, 2026, disclosed that Thompson was arraigned on an eight-count charge.
In response to the EFCC’s action, Itok allegedly posted claims suggesting that Thompson’s arrest was motivated by personal issues unrelated to the fraud allegations. Authorities, however, consider those claims to be false and capable of misleading the public, particularly as investigations into the fraud case are ongoing.
Investigators maintain that the charges against Thompson relate strictly to alleged financial crimes involving foreign investors. Individuals mentioned in Itok’s posts have denied the claims attributed to them, describing the narrative as fabricated and damaging.
Security sources further indicated that Itok’s recent publications were not limited to the Thompson matter. He reportedly authored additional posts targeting other public figures in Akwa Ibom State, which authorities are reviewing as part of a broader investigation into alleged cyber defamation and blackmail.
Records show that Itok was previously arrested in October 2019 by the Department of State Services (DSS) over alleged defamatory publications against the then-Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Udom Emmanuel. Media reports at the time indicated that he was detained for over 60 days before being granted bail in December 2019 by an Akwa Ibom State High Court in the sum of N500,000.
With the current arrest, authorities say the case underscores renewed efforts by law enforcement agencies to address online misinformation, cyber harassment and related offences under Nigeria’s cybercrime laws.
Meanwhile, members of the public have been advised to rely on verified information from credible sources and avoid spreading unconfirmed claims, especially in matters involving ongoing criminal investigations.

Former Acting AGF Admits Release Of Funds For To Private Companies In The Alleged N868.4m Fraud

Former acting AGF admits release of funds for to private companies in the alleged N868.4m fraud. A former Acting Accountant General of the Federation, Chukwunyere Anamekwe Nwabuoku on Tuesday, February 10, 2026 admitted before Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, that he confessed in his statements at the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC, that funds were transferred to four companies from the Ministry of Defence, where he was formerly the Director of Finance for what he described simply as “classified purposes.”

This admission sharply contradicts his testimony in the previous proceeding in the court where he disputed allegations linking him with any dealings with the said companies, namely, Temeeo Synergy Concept Limited, Turge Global Investment Limited, Laptev Bridge and Arafura Transnational Afro Limited. He had then claimed that he only heard about the companies as they were mentioned in court.

Under cross examination by prosecution counsel, Ekele Iheanacho, SAN, on Tuesday, the defendant was shown his statement in ICPC, dated February 2, 2025, where he admitted in writing that funds were transferred to the four companies from the Ministry of Defence, under him as the Director of Finance for classified security purposes which are not to be disclosed.

Fraud

Further in the cross-examination, the prosecution counsel maintained in his submission that evidence before the court showed that the funds paid to these four companies by the Ministry of Defence were not for lawful transactions as there is no proof whatsoever to show that they were used for security purposes.

While claiming that he bought the property he lives in, directly by himself and from legitimate earnings, the defendant/witness curiously identified in the same breath a cheque of N64 million issued by a company, Mdavi Limited in favour of City Gate Homes for the acquisition of the residence.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, is prosecuting Nwabuoku on amended nine-count charge, bordering on money laundering to the tune of N868, 465,000 (Eight Hundred and Sixty-eight Million, Four Hundred and Sixty-five Thousand Naira)

Justice Omotosho adjourned the matter till February 27, 2026 for adoption of written addresses.