Kwara Court Orders Internet Fraudster To Sweep GRA

A Kwara State High Court sitting on Thursday has sentenced a 25 year old man identified as Victor Salawu to sweep and clean the Government Reservation Area in Ilorin over fraud.

He was also charged to pay a fine of N50,000 after completing the community service.

The accused, Victor was arraigned in court by the Ilorin zonal office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on the count of impersonation of identity.

The charge read, “That you, Victor Salawu, 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, portraying yourself as a white male named James Chris, via your email address, in order to induce him to send you money, a good representation you knew to be false.”

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According to the prosecuting counsel, Andrew Akoja, the offense contravenes Section 95 of the Penal Code and punishable under Section 324 of the Penal Code, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria.

During the trial and cause of interrogation, the defendant, however, pleaded not guilty to all crimes leveled against him by the court.

Delivering judgment, Justice Sikiru Oyinloye who was the presiding judge, however, found the accused guilty as charged.

Justice Oyinloye said, “The defendant, in his statement to the commission, did not deny the allegation leveled against him; he also did not offer any explanation to discredit the charge.

“This honorable court holds that the plea of guilt of the defendant and the oral testimony of the sole prosecution witness, one Umeh Kennedy, was not challenged nor contradicted during the proceedings.

“It is the opinion of this honorable court that the prosecution has proved its case beyond reasonable doubt and that you, Victor Salawu, is hereby convicted as charged.”

Justice Oyinloye ordered then ordered the convict to sweep and clear the Ahmadu Bello Way to the Commissioner of Police’s Quarters in the GRA, Ilorin with a fine of N50,000.

The judge also recovered two iPhones from the accused, Salawu, and in similar terms has ordered that the phones be forfeited to the Federal Government with a right to re-purchase it.