Lautech Student Jailed Over Fraud Count

Michael Ogunmefun:

A final year student of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (Lautech), Ogbomoso, Oyo State, Adebowale Abiola, has been jailed for one year by Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo of the Lagos State Special Offences Court over $104,500 fraud.

Abiola was arrested after the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission received a report on the activities of Internet fraudsters in the Lekki area of Lagos.

It was gathered that Abiola, who presented himself as Burton J. Smith, a citizen of the United States of American and former military officer, defrauded one Courtney Kaye.

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Abiola was arraigned on an amended one count bordering on possession of fraudulent documents containing false pretence.

He pleaded guilty to the charge.

Following his plea, the prosecuting counsel, I. A. Mohammed, told the court about the plea bargain Abiola entered into with the commission and also reviewed the facts of the case.

Delivering her judgement, Justice Taiwo sentenced him to one year imprisonment with an option of N300,000 fine, adding that the N5m recovered from him be returned to the victim through the Federal Government.

The judge also ordered that a black Mercedes Benz GLK, with number plate AKD 573 GK, recovered from the convict be forfeited to the victim through the Federal Government.