EFCC Secures Conviction Of Internet Fraudster In Ilorin

By Steve Oni, Ilorin

The Ilorin Zonal Office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has secured the conviction of a 25 year old internet fraudster, Salawu Victor.

Salawu was convicted by a Kwara State High Court in Ilorin presided over by Justice Sikiru Oyinloye.

The charge against him stated: “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 impersonation, 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, Prosecuting Counsel, Andrew Akoja, told the Court that “My Lord, before this honourable Court is a one count charge dated 18th day of June 2020, we pray the Court to accept the charge and allow it to be read to the defendant.”

Salawu, however, pleaded guilty to the charge.

Delivering Judgment, Justice Oyinloye said: “The defendant in his statement to the Commission did not deny the allegations levelled against him, he (Salawu) also did not offer any explanation to discredit the charge.

“This honourable Court holds that the plea of guilt by the defendant and oral testimony of the sole prosecution witness, one 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 also ordered the convict to sweep and clear Ahmadu Bello Way to Commissioner of Police Quarters in G.R.A Ilorin and also pay a fine of fifty thousand naira.

The Judge ordered that the two iPhones recovered from the defendant be forfeited to the Federal Government with a right to re-purchase it.