Kwara: Gospel singer, eight others jailed for cybercrime

Court

A Federal High Court in Ilorin, Kwara State has jailed a self-styled gospel singer and eight others for offences bordering on cybercrime, conspiracy, and misappropriation of funds.

The offences were brought against them by the Ilorin Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

According to a statement by the Head of Media and Publicity of the EFCC, Dele Oyewale, made available to the press on Friday, Moses Otitoju, a 31-year-old gospel artiste from Iyamoye in Ijumu Local Government Area of Kogi State, was on Thursday, July 17, 2025, sentenced to six months imprisonment without the option of a fine by Justice Abimbola Awogboro.

Otitoju, who claimed in his statement to be a popular gospel performer at weddings, naming ceremonies, and funerals in Lokoja, Kogi State, was found guilty of retaining the proceeds of unlawful activities amounting to 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 arraigned by the Ilorin Zonal Directorate of the anti-graft agency on similar charges.

Ayodele, who was found to have retained N243,750 in his bank account, was sentenced to eight months imprisonment without option of fine. Punch