Mother and daughter jailed after sending money to Daesh member

A mother and daughter have been jailed after an investigation by specialist Counter Terrorism officers at the Met found they sent money to a relative who had joined Daesh in Syria.

Stella Oyella, 53, and Vanessa Atim, 32, arranged for more than £1,800 to be sent to Joseph Ogaba, who had left the UK to join Daesh in 2014.

Oyella is Ogaba’s sister. Ogaba travelled to Syria via Germany and Turkey in September 2014.

Oorts officers detained Atim at Heathrow and Gatwick Airports on 12 March 2018 and again on 21 December 2018 respectively, using powers under Schedule 7 of the Terrorism Act 2000. Her devices were seized and the contents downloaded. Messaging app conversations were found with references to money transactions.

In 2019, detectives analysed a computer hard drive linked to Ogaba which had been recovered by Syrian authorities the previous year. Investigators found the hard drive contained scans of money transfer receipts, and the dates, times and the monetary sums of these transactions aligned with those discussed in the messages.

There were also pictures of Ogaba, including evidence of his activities with Daesh, and extremist content with images of weapons and explosive devices.

It was reported in July 2022 that Ogaba had died in prison, following his capture by Syrian Defence Forces.

Investigators found that Oyella and Atim knew that the cash was supporting terrorist activities. Evidence also showed that they sent the money through contacts in Uganda and the Middle East.

Oyella and Atim were interviewed by counter terrorism officers in June and December 2021 respectively, and charged on 11 October 2022.

They were found guilty of terrorist fundraising (contrary to section 17 of the Terrorism Act 2000), after a trial at the Old Bailey which concluded on 20 December 2023.

Oyella was sentenced to three years’ imprisonment and Atim to three years and nine months.

Commander Dominic Murphy, who leads the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command, said: “These women went to great lengths to first arrange, and then distance themselves from money transfers to Ogaba. They knew he had travelled to Syria to join a terrorist group and by sending him cash, they helped him remain with Daesh.

“This case shows how we work with our international partners to close the net on people who support terrorist activity, no matter how much time has passed.”

Image by Kev from Pixabay