Richard Ginika Izuora
A lecturer, with the Kwara State College of Health Technology, Offa, identified as Adebisi Ademola, has been jailed for six months.
Justice Sikiru Oyinloye of the Kwara State High Court on Friday sentenced the 38-year-old lecturer to prison over his involvement in love scam.
The lecturer was among the 33 suspected internet fraudsters arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on September 14, 2020, in Offa Local Government Area of Kwara.
He was prosecuted by the Ilorin Zonal Office of the EFCC on one-count charge bordering on romance scam.
The offence is contrary to and punishable under Section 95 of the Penal Code of Northern Nigeria.
The charge reads: “That you, Adebisi Ademola (a.k.a Dawn Ayero) sometime in September 2020, at Ilorin; within the jurisdiction of this Court, attempted to commit an offence of cheating by personation.
“That Ademola pretending and representing yourself to be a white lady called Dawn Ayero to one Donald Oakes who is purportedly in love with the said Donald Oakes as it is contained in your gmail account: dawnayero@gmail.com
The lecturer pleaded guilty to the charge when it was read to him.
Following his guilt plea, counsel to the EFCC, Andrew Akoja, invited to the witness box one Olumide Olasode; an operative of the Commission, to review the facts of the case.
He narrated how intelligence report led to the arrest of the defendant on Sepember 14, 2020, at Offa.
Petition from concerned citizens of Offa, statement of the defendant and all the fraudulent messages printed out of his email were tendered and admitted as evidence by the court.
Thereafter, Akoja urged the court to convict the defendant based on his plea; the exhibits tendered and the evidence of the sole prosecution witness.
Consequently, Justice Oyinloye in his judgment found Ademola guilty of the charge and sentenced him accordingly.
However, he gave him an option of fine of N50,000. In addition, the judge ordered the forfeiture of the convict’s phone used as instrument for the commission of the crime to the Federal Government.