Sunmonu Thaoban Olasunkanmi, a suspected middleman for internet fraudsters popularly known as “Picker,” has been jailed for four years for money laundering and fraud.
Justice Akintayo Aluko of the Federal High Court, Lagos, convicted Sunmonu Thaoban Olasunkanmi on Thursday after he pleaded guilty to three charges brought by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The charges involved disguising the sources of $20,000 and ₦16 million in illicit proceeds, including funds used to acquire a 2018 G-Wagon Jeep. He was also accused of possessing documents containing false pretences.
After his guilty plea, the prosecution urged the court to convict him, while his lawyer pleaded for leniency and promised that he would turn a new leaf.
Justice Aluko sentenced Sunmonu to four years in prison, with an option of a ₦1.8 million fine. He also ordered the forfeiture of his black G-Wagon Jeep, mobile device and ₦9 million recovered from his account to the Federal Government.
Four BDC Operators Also Jailed
In a separate case, Justice Aluko sentenced four Bureau de Change operators—Umar Muhammad Lamido, Yusuf Musa Yusuf, Abdulmuhimin Mahmud and Muhammed Musa—to 12 months each for illegal forex transactions.
The EFCC prosecuted the men for allegedly conducting foreign exchange transactions outside the official market. They all pleaded guilty.
Each was sentenced to 12 months in prison, with an option of a ₦100,000 fine.
