Lagos Court Jails Man 15 Years For N26 Million Fake Toyota Hilux Fraud

(Abdulrahman Lawal Raji. Photo Credt: X.com)

A Lagos State High Court sitting in Ikeja has convicted and sentenced Abdulrahman Lawal Raji to 15 years in prison for a N26 million fraud, with Justice Ismail Ijelu delivering the judgment on Tuesday, June 2, 2026.

Raji had been arraigned on November 9, 2023, by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Lagos Zonal Directorate 1, on an amended two-count charge of obtaining money under false pretences.

The charge alleged that between March 20 and 21, 2023, Raji and a second accused person who remains at large fraudulently obtained the sum of N26 million from one Olaide Ibidapo, having falsely represented the amount as payment for a 2022 Toyota Hilux vehicle, knowing the claim to be untrue. Raji pleaded not guilty to the charges.

During the trial, the prosecution counsel, Ebuka Okongwu, called four witnesses and tendered several documentary exhibits, which were admitted in evidence by the court.

The defence, in turn, called two witnesses.

In delivering judgment, Justice Ijelu held that the prosecution had proven its case beyond reasonable doubt and convicted the defendant accordingly.

Raji was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment on the first count and five years on the second count, with no option of a fine on either. The sentences are to run concurrently.

The court also ordered that the sum of N26 million be returned to the victim.

The conviction arose from Raji’s receipt of N26 million from the petitioner for the purchase of a 2022 Toyota Hilux vehicle a car he neither delivered nor refunded the money for.