An Ikeja Special Offences Court has delivered a stern sentence to a 100-level university part-time student, Emmanuel Victor, for his involvement in an online dating scam. The 18-month prison term was handed down by Justice Rahman Oshodi after Victor pleaded guilty to charges of possession of fraudulent documents brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
During the proceedings, Oshodi stated unequivocally that he did not believe Victor committed the offense out of necessity, stressing the gravity of the crime. However, he did offer Victor the option of paying a four-million-naira fine.
Oshodi claimed that Victor’s sentence would be reduced by 20%, citing favorable circumstances. The court also ordered that all things recovered from Victor throughout the investigation, including phones, an ATM card, and a manager’s cheque, be forfeited to the federal government.
Abubakar Dambuwa, the EFCC counsel, gave a thorough narrative of the events that led to Victor’s arrest. According to Dambuwa, the commission got intelligence inputs concerning Victor’s fraudulent actions on September 15, 2023, which prompted a raid that resulted in his arrest.
During the court proceedings, Victor described his strategy, disclosing that he created a bogus Facebook account under the name “Agent Fred Smith.” He then duped unsuspecting victims into applying for a bogus “Social Economic Grant Programme,” which charged them processing and delivery costs.
Victor admits to using $7,000 from the swindle to relocate his family and improve their living conditions, citing financial difficulties as the driving force behind his actions. He apologized for his fraudulent actions and pledged not to engage in criminal behavior if given another chance.
Ms. E. A. Ukpai, Victor’s defense counsel, filed an appeal for a non-custodial sentence, citing Victor’s status as a first-time offender and his mother’s illness. However, the court found the offense significant enough to warrant a prison sentence, sending a strong message against cybercrime and online fraud.
