Ireland imprisons two Nigerian nationals for 16 years over €6m scam

Francis Ogbuefi, a 42-year-old Nigerian national, and Steven Silvester, a 32-year-old Nigerian national, have been handed down a combined prison sentence of over 16 years for their involvement in a large-scale, global money laundering operation, described as highly sophisticated.

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The duo's arrest and prosecution were the result of a thorough investigation conducted by the Garda National Economic Crime Bureau of Ireland, according to a report by Raidió Teilifís Éireann on Friday.

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Ogbuefi, who resides at Clonard Road, Crumlin, Dublin, was given a nine-year prison term, while Silvester, who lives at The Paddocks, Morristown, Newbridge, Co. Kildare, received a sentence of seven and a half years.

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It is alleged that the pair had traveled from Nigeria to Ireland with the intention of engaging in organized fraud, with the total value of the scams linked to the case amounting to €6.17m.

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Both men initially denied the charges, but were ultimately found guilty by a jury following a trial last month.

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Court proceedings revealed that over €6m was stolen and laundered through various schemes, including romance fraud and smishing, with the funds being moved across multiple bank accounts.

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Investigations showed that the two men coordinated the provision and monitoring of accounts used to receive illicit funds, with evidence indicating that they received requests from around the world, many of which were linked to Nigerian phone numbers.

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Data recovered from Ogbuefi's phone contained detailed information, including job specifications, transaction volumes, and account requirements, and also showed that he had instructed that accounts be opened under Irish names to avoid suspicion.

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According to the report, prosecutors stated that Ogbuefi acted as a key contact for collaborators outside Ireland, and a nine-minute instructional video on how to carry out the fraud was discovered on his device.

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The video was found alongside images showing Ogbuefi overseeing transactions and directing the group's activities, and it was reported that he took a 20 per cent cut of the proceeds, claiming to have extensive experience in the scheme.

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Evidence also indicated that Ogbuefi had entered Ireland as a student, while Silvester had initially lived in direct provision before becoming transient.

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Presiding judge Martin Nolan described the operation as complex, noting that money laundering networks rely heavily on access to bank accounts, and stated that both men demonstrated a strong understanding of banking systems, regularly testing their vulnerabilities.

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While the crimes were difficult to detect, the judge commended investigators for pursuing leads and presenting compelling evidence, and also noted that the convicts had no prior criminal records and were regarded positively by their families.

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The judge described the convicts as intelligent and capable of reform, and the case adds to a growing number of fraud-related convictions involving Nigerians abroad.

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This year alone, over 100 Nigerians have been arrested in Ghana over alleged fraud and other offences, highlighting the scale of the issue.