Gospel Singer And Eight Others Jailed For Cybercrime In Kwara

A self-proclaimed gospel singer and eight others have been convicted by courts in Kwara State for crimes involving cybercrime, conspiracy, and misappropriation of funds.

The charges were filed against them by the Ilorin Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The EFCC’s Head of Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale, announced this in a statement on Friday, July 18, 2025.

According to the statement, Moses Otitoju, a 31-year-old gospel artist from Iyamoye in Ijumu Local Government Area of Kogi State, was sentenced on Thursday, July 17, 2025, to six months in prison without the option of a fine by Justice Abimbola Awogboro of the Federal High Court, Ilorin.

Otitoju, who claimed in his statement to be a well-known gospel performer at weddings, naming ceremonies, and funerals in Lokoja, Kogi State, was found guilty of retaining proceeds from illegal activities totaling over N8.4 million in his bank account.

The charge against him reads in part, “That you, OTITOJU MOSES SESAN, sometime between October 2024 and December 2025, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, did retain control of the gross sum of N8,404,339 in your account, being proceeds of criminal conduct, thereby committing an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 17(a) and (b) of the EFCC Act, 2004.”

Otitoju was convicted alongside Ayodele Joseph, Adeoye Joseph, and Abubakar Aliyu Abdulmalik, all prosecuted by the Ilorin Zonal Directorate of the anti-graft agency on similar charges.

Ayodele, found to have retained N243,750 in his bank account, was sentenced to eight months in prison without the option of a fine.

His Techno 19 was ordered to be forfeited to the Federal Government.

Adeoye, from Okene Local Government Area of Kogi State, was also sentenced to eight months in prison without the option of a fine.

He forfeited $220, an iPhone 13, and a Techno Pop 9 phone to the Federal Government.

Abubakar received a six-month prison sentence, with an order to forfeit his iPhone 16 and Samsung S10 to the Federal Government.

The EFCC was represented in the prosecution by Aliyu Adebayo, Sesan Ola, Rashidat Alao, and Mustapha Kaigama, who presented statements, exhibits, and recovered sums as restitution, which were accepted as evidence.

In a related development, Justices Haleema Saleeman and Sulaiman Akanbi of the Kwara State High Court convicted Emeka Oluwatobi Achi, Isaac Babalola Oluwafemi, Afolabi Faith Olatoye, Zubeiru Zubeiru Junior, and Abdulkadir Taofeek on charges including cybercrime and misappropriation.

Justice Akanbi sentenced Abdulkadir to three years in prison with the option of a N500,000 fine and ordered the final forfeiture of N800,000, one iPhone 14 Pro Max, and a Samsung phone to the Federal Government.

Justice Saleeman, on her part, sentenced Emeka, Isaac, and Afolabi to six months in prison each with the option of a N100,000 fine.

Emeka was further ordered to refund N3.35 million within three months and to report every two weeks with his parents to the EFCC until the full amount is repaid.

A Gentle Reminder: Every obstacle is a stepping stone, every morning; a chance to go again, and those little steps take you closer to your dream.

Nnamdi Okoli