US-based Nigerian risks 20 years’ jail over $2.7m fraud

A U.S. federal jury has convicted Babajide Adesayo, a 41-year-old Nigerian national residing in Douglasville, Georgia, for his role in laundering more than $2.7 million derived from romance fraud and various online scams. The conviction, which followed an eight-day trial concluding on August 6, 2026, found Adesayo guilty on two counts of conspiracy to commit money laundering and 16 counts of transactional money laundering.

According to the U.S. Department of Justice, the fraudulent activities occurred between April 2020 and September 2021. Scammers targeted elderly victims by posing as trusted friends, business associates, or romantic partners. They allegedly fabricated urgent needs for funds, citing business equipment purchases, medical treatments, or assistance with legal troubles, persuading victims to transfer significant sums, including retirement savings.

Evidence presented in court revealed that victims were directed to send money to business accounts managed by Adesayo's co-defendant, another Nigerian national named Efemena Igbe. Upon receiving the funds, Igbe would immediately forward most of the money to Adesayo. To conceal the illicit nature of these transactions, Igbe falsely notated the transfers as payments for car purchases from Adesayo's automotive business.

Adesayo, in turn, would promptly send the majority of the laundered money to overseas accounts in China, Hong Kong, Nigeria, and other countries. Over a 17-month period, he handled over $2.7 million in victim funds. Disturbingly, the prosecution alleged that Adesayo continued his money laundering activities even after his arrest in June 2024, while awaiting trial. This post-arrest conduct led to the revocation of his bond, and he has remained in federal custody since March 2, 2026. He is scheduled to be sentenced on November 20, 2026, before United States District Judge Mark H. Co.