Ogbuefi was also convicted of 32 counts of money laundering and seven of conspiracy to launder money. The jury also convicted Silvester of five counts of money laundering, two of attempted money laundering, four of conspiracy to launder money and one of using a false instrument. During the sentence hearing, Judge Martin Nolan suggested to the investigating garda that the men were a “colonel and a major”, which Det Garda Steven Kelly agreed with. Evidence suggested both men were receiving requests, often from phone numbers in Nigeria, to launder money from different types of frauds. Mr Devally asked the court to view Ogbuefi as being “appointed to a position of local authority in a wider organisation”.

Source: The Irish Times March 20, 2026 22:31 UTC