TWO gifted Nigerian students were used as a conduit to help launder money scammed from a restaurateur, a court heard.

The owner of Tango, on Elvet Bridge, Durham, unwittingly paid a rental bill for £16,250 into an account set up by the scammers.

Durham Crown Court heard he had received an email invoice on March 20, supposedly from his landlord, informing him his rent was due, to which replied, “no problem”, two days later.

Shaun Dryden, prosecuting, said a further email, informed him of his landlord’s “updated” bank details, into which he made the payment.

It was only when his genuine landlord contacted him asking why he had not paid the rent that the fraud came to light.

Mr Dryden said the money was transferred from the rogue “landlord’s” account to that of Great Oliseh, a Nigerian studying maritime engineering at South Tyneside College, on March 29.

Within a few minutes money transfers were made by Oliseh to accounts in Nigeria, while £6,000 was transferred to the account of Douglas Odaji, a fellow maritime engineering student, with whom he shared digs in South Shields.

Mr Dryden said when they were traced and arrested, on April 16, it emerged both had recently bought new computer devices, which were seized.

Mr Dryden added that the scam caused problems for the victim and his business, as he still had to make his rent payment to his genuine landlord, with whom it put a strain on relations.

Oliseh, 27, and his 28-year-old compatriot, both of South Frederick Street, both admitted converting and removing criminal property, but at different stages in proceedings.

Neil Jones, for Oliseh, and Martin Scarborough, for Odaji, said both were of previous good character and took advantage of the “opportunity” that came their way, for which they are now, “remorseful”.

Both “talented” students were said to have recently graduated and are destined to return to their homeland before the end of month when their visas expire.

Due to their previous good character and the amounts by which they personally benefited from the opportunistic crime, Recorder Ian Atherton passed prison sentences of nine months, on Oliseh, and ten months on Odaji, both suspended for a year.

Proceeds of crime proceedings will follow.