By Dele Moses, Ilorin
A Kwara State High Court sitting in Ilorin has convicted a 25-year-old man, Victor Salawu, of internet fraud.
The convict was subsequently ordered by the court to sweep a major road in the town in addition to payment of N50,000 fine.
He had been charged to the court by the Ilorin Zonal Office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission ( EFCC).
The charge against him read: “That you, Salawu Victor, (Alias: James Chris), sometime in the month of February 2019, in Ilorin, within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, did attempt to cheat by personation, by portraying yourself as a “white male named James Chris” Via your email address jameachris231411@gmail.com to one Seth B. in order to induce him to send you money, a representation you knew to be false and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 95 of the Penal Code and punishable under section 324 of the same Law.”
At the resumed hearing of the matter on Thursday, Salawu pleaded guilty to the one-count charge when it was read to him.
The presiding judge, Justice Sikiru Oyinloye, while delivering judgment said “The defendant in his statement to the Commission did not deny the allegations levelled against him. He also did not offer any explanation to discredit the charge”
“This Honourable Court holds that the plea of guilt of the defendant and oral testimony of the sole prosecution witness, Umeh Kennedy, was not challenged nor contradicted during the proceedings.”
“It is the opinion of this Honourable Court that the prosecution has proved its case beyond reasonable doubt and that you, Salawu Victor, is hereby convicted as charged “
The Court ordered the convict to sweep and clear Ahmadu Bello Way to Commissioner of Police Quarters in G.R.A Ilorin and to also pay the N50,000 fine.
The Judge ordered that the two iPhones recovered from the defendant be forfeited to the Federal Government with a right to re-purchase it.