Man accused of being a yahoo boy sentenced to jail for failing to account for N6m in his bank account

The Federal High Court in Maitama, Abuja, has sentenced Ukoh Michael Odeh, a suspected ‘Yahoo Boy’, to one year in prison after he failed to account for the sum of N6 million found in his account, as charged by the EFCC, Makurdi Zonal Command.

Justice O.A. Egwuatu presided over the case, where the defendant, Ukoh Michael Odeh, found himself entangled in legal trouble after the EFCC’s Makurdi Zonal Command received an intelligence report highlighting suspicious activities allegedly involving individuals suspected of engaging in internet fraud in Makurdi, Benue State.

Following the intelligence report, an coordinated operation by security operatives led to the apprehension of Mr. Odeh, who was subsequently charged and brought before the court.

The charge  reads;

“That you, Ukoh Michael Odeh, between 2022 and 2023 in Makurdi, Benue State, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did fail to account for the source of N6,000,000 (Six Million Naira only) in your FCMB account No: 4668442010 when you reasonably ought to have known or suspected that the said unaccounted funds formed part of the proceeds of an unlawful activity to wit: Fraud and Money laundering and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 20 (a) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022 and punishable under Section 20(b) of the same Act.”

The defendant, Ukoh Michael Odeh, pleaded guilty to the charge, prompting the prosecuting counsel, M. Yusuf, to request the court to proceed with the conviction.

In response to this plea, Justice Egwuatu handed down a one-year prison sentence to Mr. Odeh.

Additionally, the judge granted the defendant an option of paying a N300,000.00 fine and ordered him to forfeit N300,000 as restitution to the Federal Government of Nigeria.