A U.S. court has sentenced two Nigerians, David Daniyan, popularly known as Bamikole Laniyan, and Akeem Balogun, to a combined nine years in prison for their roles in bank and wire fraud.

Messrs Daniyan and Balogun were jailed for their role in a criminal network led by Oluwaseun “SANATANA” Adekoya, “Nigerian ringleader of nationwide bank fraud and money laundering conspiracies,” who bagged 20 years in prison for stealing and laundering about $2 million in bank and wire fraud.

The U.S. Department of Justice, in a statement, announced that Messrs Daniyan and Balogun were sentenced alongside their ringleader on Tuesday by Acting United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III and Craig L. Tremaroli.

Mr Daniyan, 61, was sentenced to 54 months in prison, one year of supervised release, and ordered to pay over $2.2 million in restitution.

He pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud, one count of money laundering conspiracy, and one count of aggravated identity theft.

Similarly, Mr Balogun, 56, pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud and was sentenced to 21 months’ incarceration, two years of supervised release, and ordered to pay $262,200 in restitution.

Messrs Daniyan and Balogun’s sentences add to the list of Nigerians jailed for involvement in criminal activities in the diaspora.