Two Nigerian nationals living in Ireland, Francis Ogbuefi, 42, and Steven Silvester, 32, have been sentenced to a combined 16.5 years in prison for participating in a sophisticated international money laundering operation.
The duo were prosecuted following an extensive investigation by the Garda National Economic Crime Bureau, according to local media reports. Ogbuefi, from Clonard Road, Dublin, received nine years, while Silvester, from Morristown, Co. Kildare, was sentenced to seven and a half years.
Court documents revealed that the men allegedly traveled from Nigeria to Ireland to carry out organised fraud, involving scams worth approximately €6.17 million. The schemes reportedly included romance fraud and smishing, with illicit funds circulated through multiple bank accounts.
Evidence presented during the trial showed that Ogbuefi coordinated accounts used to receive fraudulent funds, handled requests from collaborators worldwide, and even created instructional materials for the operations. Investigators found data on his phone detailing transaction volumes, account specifications, and methods to conceal identities using Irish names. He reportedly took a 20% share of the proceeds and claimed extensive experience in such schemes.
Silvester’s involvement included supporting and facilitating the laundering operations, while both men demonstrated detailed knowledge of banking systems and methods to exploit them. The judge, Martin Nolan, described the operation as complex and commended investigators for their meticulous work.
Despite the gravity of their crimes, the court noted that both convicts had no prior records and were regarded positively by their families, with potential for rehabilitation.
This case highlights the growing trend of fraud-related arrests involving Nigerian nationals abroad; in 2026 alone, more than 100 Nigerians have been arrested in Ghana on similar allegations.
