A Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos, has sentenced Fidelix Samuel Ebuka to eight years and three months in prisonafter finding him guilty of laundering nearly ₦91 million believed to be proceeds of unlawful activities.
Justice Yellim Bogoro handed down the judgment on Friday, July 17, 2026, following the defendant’s guilty plea to multiple money laundering charges filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
According to the anti-graft agency, Ebuka was prosecuted on a 14-count charge involving the retention of ₦90,989,517suspected to have been derived from illegal activities.
The EFCC told the court that the money was traced to the defendant’s Union Bank account, where investigators alleged he knowingly retained funds linked to criminal transactions, contrary to the provisions of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
Although Ebuka initially pleaded not guilty when he was arraigned in June 2026, he changed his plea to guilty during the resumed hearing on July 8, paving the way for his conviction.
Following the guilty plea, the prosecution urged the court to impose an appropriate sentence, which Justice Bogoro granted.
In addition to the prison sentence, the court gave the convict the option of paying an ₦8.5 million fine. The judge also ordered him to undertake two weeks of community service in relation to one of the charges.
The court further directed the permanent forfeiture of several valuable assets linked to the convict to the Federal Government. The forfeited items include an iPhone 15 Pro Max, iPhone 13 Pro Max, iPhone 12 Pro Max, iPhone XR, a Mercedes-Benz G65, a 2014 Mercedes-Benz ML SUV, a gold chain, and two HP laptops.
The EFCC described the conviction as part of its sustained efforts to combat financial crimes and recover assets believed to have been acquired through illicit means.
The latest judgment underscores the Commission’s commitment to prosecuting money laundering offences and reinforces the judiciary’s support for Nigeria’s anti-corruption drive.
About the Author
