Romace Scam: Unilorin Student to Clear Drainage For 3
Months
- Justice Sikiru Oyinloye of the Kwara State High Coourt, sitting
in Ilorin has convicted and sentenced Akinsanya Olamide Ridwan, a
four hundred level undergraduate of the University of Ilorin to
three months Community Service for committing romance scam.
The service requires him to clear the drainage at Bekind filing
Station near Tipper Garage, Tanke up to the gate of the University
of Ilorin for Three Months commencing from September 2, 2020.
Ridwan got the jail term on Monday, August 31, 2020 after being
arraigned on one one-count charge, bordering on internet fraud and
other fraud-related offences by the Ilorin zonal office of the
Economic and Financial Crimes Commission( EFCC)
The charge read: “That you,Akinsanya Riwan (a.k.a Alex James)
sometime in March, 2020 or thereabout at Ilorin, Kwara State within
the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court attempted to commit an
offence of cheating by personation by pretending and representing
yourself to be a white man called Alex James to an unsuspected
white woman, Stewart Sonia on a dating site called Hangout as it is
contained in your gmail account: [email protected][1] and thereby
committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 95 of
the Penal Code Laws of Northern Nigeria”
The defendant pleaded guilty to the one-count charge.
While reviewing the facts of the case, Mahmoud Ibrahim Hamman,
an Assistant Detective Superintendent with the EFCC, Ilorin zonal
office told the court ” My Lord, the defendant was arrested on
March 16, 2020 at Pipeline, behind Princess hotel, Ilorin Kwara
State, based on intelligence”.
“A search was conducted in his house and one Galaxy phone and
laptop were recovered, we analysed them and discovered an email box
where several fraudulent messages were printed in his presence
”
Delivering judgment on the matter, Justice Oyinloye convicted
and sentenced the defendant, based on exhibits tendered and the
proof of evidence brought before the court.
The Judge ordered the convict to clear the drainage at Bekind
filing Station near Tipper Garage, Tanke up to the gate of the
University of Ilorin for Three Months commencing from September 2,
2020.
He said the convict should get a notice of clearance from the
Registrar of the University of Ilorin and the Kwara State Command
of the Nigerian Correctional Service, adding that failure to do so
would attract him six months imprisonment.
The court also ordered the convict to pay a fine of Fifty
Thousand Naira( N50,000) in addition to the Community Service.
In a related development, the Kwara State Attorney General and
Commissioner for Justice, Ayinla Salman Jawondo has solicited the
Economic and Financial Crimes Commission ( EFCC) to assist the
Kwara State Government in recovering funds and assets allegedly
looted by corrupt individuals.
Jawondo made the appeal on Monday, August 31, 2020 when he led a
delegation from the State Ministry of Justice on a Courtesy visit
to the Ilorin Zonal Office of the Commission.
According to him ” we know as a fact that the EFCC is a very
delicate institution, The Commission needs the support of every
Agency to survive. The Kwara State Ministry of Justice is on ground
to give you maximum support, we have seen the number of convictions
and recoveries made in this office, we are here to identify with
you ”
Jawondo, however, appealed to the EFCC to assist the State
Government in recovering its stolen funds and properties from those
who have looted the resources.
Responding, the Ilorin Zonal Head of the EFCC, Kazeem Oseni
appreciated the delegation and promised that the EFCC would be
willing to render any lawful assistance to the state
government.
Dele Oyewale
Head, Media & Publicity
31/08/2020