N26m Toyota Hilux Scam: Lagos Court Jails Man 15 Years, Orders Restitution
A Lagos State High Court sitting in Ikeja has sentenced Abdulrahman Lawal Raji to 15 years imprisonment for defrauding a businessman of N26 million under the guise of facilitating the purchase of an auctioned Toyota Hilux vehicle.
Justice Ismail Ijelu delivered the judgment on June 2, 2026, after finding Raji guilty of conspiracy and obtaining money by false pretence, offences contrary to Sections 8(a) and 1(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006.
The court held that the prosecution successfully proved beyond reasonable doubt that Raji, in collaboration with an accomplice who is still at large, fraudulently obtained N26 million from Olaide Ibidapo by falsely claiming the money was for the purchase of a Toyota Hilux vehicle being auctioned by the Nigeria Customs Service.
The convict also falsely presented himself as a customs officer to convince the victim.
According to the charges, Raji and his accomplice committed the offences between March 20 and March 21, 2023, in Lagos.
They were accused of conspiring to obtain money by false pretence and fraudulently collecting N26 million from the complainant under the false representation that it was the purchase price of a 2022 Toyota Hilux vehicle.
Raji was arraigned on November 9, 2023, by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), on a two-count amended charge.
He pleaded not guilty, leading to a full trial.
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During the proceedings, prosecution counsel, Ebuka Okongwu, called four witnesses and tendered several documentary exhibits, all of which were admitted by the court.
The defence, in turn, called two witnesses in support of its case.
In his judgment, Justice Ijelu sentenced Raji to 10 years imprisonment without an option of fine on the conspiracy count and five years imprisonment without an option of fine on the count of obtaining money by false pretence.
The sentences are to run concurrently.
The court also ordered the convict to restitute the sum of N26 million to the complainant.
