Abayomi Olowo, 48, and Ayodele Odukoya, 42, were jailed for four-and-a-half years and three years and nine months respectively, though six others standing trial were found not guilty.

Ansumana Kamara (pictured right) was the ringleader of the group but pleaded guilty in September 2010 and was jailed for three-and-a-half years.

They wrote a letter in the false name of Anthony Webb to the ODA, requesting money due to Olympic Park contractor Skanska, claiming their bank details had changed.

The ODA, responsible for constructing venues for this summer's Games, subsequently sent the money in May 2010, though it was alleged that the plan had been to steal £6 million ($9.5 million/€7 million).

Some of the companies, authorities and council were alerted at an early stage, prosecutors had said.

Scotland Yard said the aim was to launder the money to Nigeria and then transfer it back to Britain to purchase commercial property.

Judge Martin Beddoe, sentencing Odukoya and Olowo, said: "As the jury has found, both of you were ready and willing participants in the scheme to launder £2.3 million stolen from the Olympic Delivery Authority.

"It is of course, a very significant sum of money."

"I am told of the inevitable effect on your families as a consequence of what you did.

"I take the view that is something you should have thought about before you embarked upon this determined involvement in crime."

The ODA says 95 per cent of the money has been recovered.

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]


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