College Student Faces 18-Month Sentence In Conviction For Online Dating Scam

College Student Faces 18-Month Sentence In Conviction For Online Dating Scam

In a recent development, a 100-level university part-time student pursuing computer science, Emmanuel Victor, faced legal consequences as the Ikeja Special Offences Court sentenced him to 18 months in prison for engaging in an online dating scam. The verdict was delivered by Justice Rahman Oshodi, following Victor’s admission of guilt to the charge of possessing fraudulent documents filed against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC)……….CONTINUE READING

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Justice Oshodi, in his ruling, handed down an 18-month prison term to Victor but provided an alternative option—a four million naira fine. Despite acknowledging the convict’s guilty plea, Oshodi expressed skepticism about the necessity behind Victor’s actions. Nevertheless, he opted to reduce the sentence by 20%.

As part of the judgment, Justice Oshodi ordered the forfeiture of all items seized from Victor, including phones, ATM cards, and a manager’s cheque, to the Federal Government. The judge emphasized that these assets would be handed over to the appropriate authorities.

The case unfolded when the EFCC received an intelligence report on September 15, 2023, highlighting the fraudulent activities of Victor and others. Subsequently, a raid was conducted, leading to Victor’s arrest. Among the items recovered from him were an iPhone 13 in deep blue color, a Samsung phone, an ATM card, a manager’s cheque, and various fraudulent documents.

During the court proceedings, Mr. Abubakar Dambua, the EFCC counsel, presented a detailed account of the facts surrounding the case. Victor’s defense counsel, Ms. E. A. Ukpai, did not object to the admissibility of the seized items as evidence.

In response to the judge’s inquiry, Victor revealed that he executed the scam by creating a fictitious Facebook account under the name ‘Agent Fred Smith.’ He admitted to deceiving unsuspecting victims by urging them to apply for the Social Economic Grant Programme and persuading them to make payments for processing and delivery. Victor claimed to have utilized the ill-gotten funds—approximately $7,000—to support his family.

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