Two Nigerian nationals have been sentenced to a combined prison term of over 16 years in Ireland after being convicted for their roles in a sophisticated international money laundering operation.
The convicts, Francis Ogbuefi, 42, and Steven Silvester, 32, were found guilty following a detailed investigation by Ireland’s Garda National Economic Crime Bureau.
Ogbuefi, a resident of Clonard Road, Crumlin in Dublin, was handed a nine-year sentence, while Silvester, who lived in The Paddocks, Morristown, Newbridge, Co. Kildare, received seven and a half years in prison.
Authorities revealed that the duo travelled from Nigeria to Ireland, where they became actively involved in organised fraud schemes that spanned multiple countries.
Investigations showed that the criminal operation generated over €6.17 million through various fraudulent activities, including romance scams and smishing (SMS phishing).
The stolen funds were laundered through a network of bank accounts across different jurisdictions.
Despite denying the charges, both men were convicted by a jury after a trial held last month.
Court proceedings revealed that the suspects played a central role in coordinating accounts used to receive and move illicit funds.
Evidence presented indicated they managed requests from global collaborators many linked to Nigerian phone numbers seeking bank accounts for fraudulent transactions.
Related News:
Man bags 17 year jail term for sexual assault
Young Thug released from jail after guilty plea
El-Rufai faces possible jail term over cybercrime allegations
Lagos man bags 13 year jail term for stealing
Woman bags 5 year jail term for attempted murder in Delta
Data retrieved from Ogbuefi’s mobile device exposed detailed operational plans, including transaction targets, account specifications, and instructions on avoiding detection. He reportedly directed that bank accounts be opened under Irish identities to reduce suspicion.
Prosecutors described Ogbuefi as a key link between Ireland-based operations and international collaborators. A nine-minute training video explaining how to execute the fraud was also discovered on his device, alongside images showing him supervising transactions.
Further findings revealed that Ogbuefi took a 20 percent share of the proceeds and claimed to have significant experience in the scheme.
Authorities noted that Ogbuefi entered Ireland as a student, while Silvester had previously lived in direct provision before later becoming transient.
Delivering judgment, presiding judge Martin Nolan described the operation as highly complex, noting that such networks depend heavily on access to bank accounts and an in-depth understanding of financial systems.
While acknowledging that both men had no prior criminal records and were viewed positively by their families, the court emphasized the seriousness of the offences.
The judge also commended investigators for their persistence in uncovering and prosecuting the case.
This conviction adds to a growing list of fraud-related cases involving Nigerians abroad. Earlier this year, more than 100 Nigerians were reportedly arrested in Ghana over alleged fraud and related offences.
About the Author
