4 Convicted In Abuja For Romance Scam

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has secured  secured the conviction of Odili Peters and three others for offences bordering on romance scam. Others convicted were Shakajede Okiemute, Amorighoye Precious and Prosper Nelson.

They were arraigned before Justice O.A. Musa of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT High Court, Bwari on different charges bordering on romance scam.

Odili was sentenced to six months in prison, with an option of fine of N50,000 after he pleaded “guilty” to the one-count charge bordering on romance scam.

Using a gmail account, he disguised as Samuel Bowen, a male Caucasian and attempted to cheat one Dianne Brown. He pretended to be in a romantic relationship with her to obtain financial gain. The complainant suspected him and reported him to the Commission. This prompted his arrest and prosecution.

Okiemute was charged with a one-count charge for posing as an American citizen, Frank Henry, and in the guise, deceived one Patt Lilian based in Florida, United States, to deliver to him $50 worth of iTunes, luring her into believing they were in a relationship.

He pleaded “guilty” to the charge and was accordingly convicted by Justice Musa, who sentenced him to one month in prison with a fine of N25,000.

Amorighoye was also charged with a one-count charge for posing as one David Maddison, and in the guise, lured one Lori Simord into a purported romantic relationship. He was also able to induce her to transfer to him $25 worth of iPhone iTunes card, an offence contrary to Section 320(a) of the Penal Code Act.

He pleaded “guilty” and was according convicted by Justice Musa, who sentenced him to one month in prison and a fine of N25,000.

Nelson, who disguised as Terry Hugh from Florida, and as an independent contractor working in an oil sector, lured one Jacqueline Hart to send him $250, part of which he used to procure a HP probook laptop, was convicted by Justice Musa and sentenced to one month in prison with an option of fine of N25,000.

He had pleaded “guilty” to the one count preferred against him by the EFCC

ector of Transvex Investment Limited Auwal Abdulrahman, on a one-count charge bordering on cheating and misappropriation.

He was brought before Justice D.Z. Senchi of a Federal Capital Territory, FCT High Court, sitting in Jabi, following the investigation of a petition against him.

The petitioner, Yasir Tijjani, had alleged that sometime in December 2018, he entered into an agreement with Bani Mbaka Investment Company Limited to transfer the sum of N96 million to Transvex Investment Limited with the understanding that he was going to receive the equivalent sum of £200,000 (Two Hundred Thousand Pounds) within 48 hours.

However, upon receiving the naira equivalent, the convict refused to pay either the N96 million or the pounds equivalent. All efforts to get the money back, proved abortive, prompting Tijjani to take his cry to the EFCC.

The charge reads in part: “That you, Auwal Abdulrahman and Transvex Investment Limited, sometime in October 2018, in Abuja within the Jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, while operating a Bureau de Change business (Trading in Foreign Currency) and in such capacity entrusted with dominion over the sum of N96,000,000 (Ninety Six Million Naira) in exchange for £200,000 (Two Hundred Thousand Pounds) by one Alhaji Yasir Tijjani, misappropriated the sum of N17,629,425.60 (Seventeen Million, Six Hundred and Twenty-nine Thousand, Four Hundred and Twenty-five Naira, Sixty Kobo).”

It is an offence contrary to Section 311 of the Penal Code Law Cap 89 Laws of Northern Nigeria 1963 and punishable under Section 312 of the same Law.

He pleaded “guilty” to the charge.

Counsel for the EFCC, Jamil Argungun, informed the court of a plea agreement entered with the Commission and urged the court to accept same and convict him, accordingly.

Defence counsel, Ahmed Abdulrahman, pleaded with the court to temper justice with mercy as the convict was a first-time offender, and had many dependants.

In his ruling, Justice Senchi convicted and sentenced him to six months in prison, but gave him an option of fine of N50,000.

The court further ordered the convict to forfeit a two bed room bungalow located at Amsabell Estate in Abuja to the victim as balance of his money.

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