The Woolwich Crown Court in the United Kingdom has sentenced three Nigerian siblings to 16 years in prison for laundering £1m (N440m) for Delta State politician and suspected Black Axe leader, Augustus Bemigho-Eyeoyibo.
The siblings are Okemiorukaye Nakpodia, 56; Esther Nakpodia, 35; and Unuakpotovo Nakpodia, 46.
Eyeoyibo is the brother-in-law of the three siblings who were convicted for laundering the proceeds of fraud between 2007 and 2015.
Police identified 174 suspicious transactions entering bank accounts.
Money from a number of the victims of the original frauds ended up in the defendants’ bank accounts and was then laundered by the Nakpodias.
Unuakpotovo was sentenced to seven years and seven months; Okemiorukaye for six years and six months while Esther was given two years and six months in prison.
“Esther Nakpodia claimed to have never heard of Black Axe, denying links to the organisation – this despite the fact her sister has been married to the group’s leader for 14 years,” prosecution counsel, Philip Slough, said.
“She denied knowing that Augustus Bemigho-Eyeoyibo is involved in gang activity and said she believed he was a reputable business man. She accepted being in possession of £28,000 when arrested – this was money withdrawn from her bank account and was taking it with her to Nigeria to give to her sister and brother-in-law in person.”
