A former British Airways pilot has been sentenced to more than eight years in prison after admitting to raping a 12-year-old girl he groomed on social media and drove nearly 200 miles to meet.

Kwame Yeboah, 30, from Reading, pleaded guilty at Liverpool Crown Court to three counts of rape and one count of sexual assault of a child under 13. The court heard that the Ghana-born pilot initially met the victim on the online chat platform Omegle before continuing to groom her via Instagram.

Prosecutors described Yeboah as a dangerous predator who travelled in his Mercedes from Reading to the Wirral in Merseyside, covering over 200 miles, with the intention of sexually abusing the schoolgirl. He raped her twice in his car after arranging the meeting.

Yeboah was sentenced to eight years and four months in custody, with an additional year on extended licence upon release. He has also been placed on the sex offenders register for life, given a 15-year restraining order, and was dismissed by British Airways following his arrest.

The case has highlighted ongoing concerns about online grooming and the exploitation of children on social media platforms. Sentencing judge described the premeditated nature of the offences as particularly serious.

This conviction comes amid broader efforts by UK authorities to tackle child sexual exploitation facilitated through the internet.

The United States Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has announced new sanctions targeting individuals and entities accused of facilitating financial support for the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) and its West Africa affiliate (ISIS-WA).

The designations, issued on June 22, 2026, focus on a Nigerian national and several Lagos- and Kano-based bureau de change (BDC) firms.

According to the US Treasury, these actions aim to disrupt ISIS’s decentralised financial networks that enable the group to move funds across regions, including West Africa, to support terrorist operations.

Key Designations from the US Sanctions List:

• Mukhtar Adamu Muhammad (also known as Muhammad Mukhtar Adamu or Adamu Mukhtar Muhammad): A Nigerian national born on August 2 or 3, 1990. He resides at No. 45, Abimbola Street, off Capital Road, by Morcas, Agege, Lagos State, Nigeria. Designated as an ISIS-WA financial facilitator who has conducted money transfers on behalf of the group. He holds Nigerian passports A11904741 and A07422697.

Associated Entities (Bureau de Change Firms):

• Generation Currency Bureau De Change Limited: Based in Lagos, Nigeria. Established January 9, 2019. Registration Number RC 1555604. Owned, controlled, or directed by Muhammad.
• Manhattan Bureau De Change Limited: Located at No. 59 Murtala Mohammed Way, Wapa, Kano, Nigeria. Established January 26, 2021.
• Nine To Nine Exchange Bureau De Change Limited: Located at Block 7, FAAN Complex, Airport Road by Beesam Bus Stop, Ikeja, Lagos State, Nigeria. Established August 22, 2017. Registration Number RC 1462752.

These entities are accused of acting on behalf of Muhammad to support ISIS-WA activities through money service businesses.

The sanctions were imposed under Executive Order 13224, as amended. As a result, all property and interests in property of the designated persons and entities within US jurisdiction are blocked. US persons are generally prohibited from engaging in transactions with them, and foreign financial institutions risk secondary sanctions for significant dealings.

This latest action forms part of a broader global effort by the US to target ISIS financial facilitators operating in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. Nigerian authorities have been intensifying domestic measures against terrorism financing, including their own sanctions lists on BDCs and individuals.

No immediate official reaction from the Nigerian government or the affected individuals was available as of press time. Affected parties can petition OFAC for removal from the list if they meet delisting criteria.

The United States Mission in Nigeria has advised Nigerian travellers to comply fully with the terms of their visas, warning that violations could affect their chances of travelling, studying or working in the country in the future.

The mission gave the advice in a message posted on its official X account under the #VisaWiseTravelSmart campaign, urging visa holders to stay only for the period approved by US immigration authorities.

It said adherence to immigration rules remained important for Nigerians seeking to preserve future opportunities in the United States.“Staying compliant with U.S. immigration laws isn’t just the right thing to do; it protects your future and keeps opportunities open for Nigerian travelers,” the mission said.

The embassy urged visitors, students and workers to keep their travel documents valid, comply with visa conditions and avoid actions that could lead to future ineligibility.

“Whether you’re studying, working, or visiting the United States, always honour the terms of your visa. Follow the rules. Stay only for as long as you are authorized. Keep your documents updated,” the post added.