Two Nigerians based in Ireland, Francis Ogbuefi, 42, and Steven Silvester, 32, have been sentenced to a combined 16-and-a-half years’ imprisonment over their involvement in a €6m fraud scheme.
According to a report by Raidió Teilifís Éireann on Friday, the convictions followed an extensive investigation by the Garda National Economic Crime Bureau.
Ogbuefi, a resident of Clonard Road, Crumlin, Dublin, was handed a nine-year jail term, while Silvester, who lived at The Paddocks, Morristown, Newbridge, County Kildare, was sentenced to seven years and six months.
Investigators revealed that the duo allegedly travelled from Nigeria to Ireland to participate in an organised and sophisticated money laundering network.
Findings showed that they coordinated the sourcing and management of bank accounts used to receive illicit funds from various parts of the world, with many of the requests linked to Nigerian phone numbers.
Evidence presented in court indicated that Ogbuefi played a central role in the operation, acting as a key liaison for collaborators outside Ireland.
Data recovered from his mobile device reportedly contained detailed instructions on transaction processes, account specifications and operational guidelines for the fraud.
Prosecutors also told the court that he directed associates to open bank accounts using Irish identities to avoid detection.
A video tutorial lasting about nine minutes, explaining how the fraudulent scheme was executed, was also discovered on his device, alongside images showing him supervising transactions and coordinating activities.
Ogbuefi was said to have received about 20 per cent of the proceeds and claimed significant experience in the illicit business.
Further disclosures showed that he entered Ireland on a student visa, while Silvester had initially lived under the country’s direct provision system before becoming transient.
Delivering judgment, Justice Martin Nolan described the scheme as highly organised and complex, noting that such operations rely heavily on access to financial accounts.
He observed that both convicts demonstrated considerable knowledge of banking systems and exploited identified loopholes.
While acknowledging the difficulty in detecting such crimes, the judge commended investigators for their diligence in uncovering the network and presenting compelling evidence in court.
He also noted that both men had no prior criminal convictions and were viewed positively by their families, describing them as intelligent individuals with potential for rehabilitation.
The development adds to a rising number of fraud-related cases involving Nigerians abroad, with over 100 Nigerians reportedly arrested in Ghana this year over alleged fraud and related offences.