National Wire About Nigerians, Nigerian Business and Other Stories
…As Court jails a fraudster one year imprisonment
By: Okosun Dennis
It was a double victory for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC), Ibadan Zonal office as they have successfully convicted a fraudster identified as Peter Adeleke as the court in Osogbo sentenced him to one year imprisonment for impersonation and obtaining money under false pretence.
Similarly, a Permanent Secretary in the Oyo State Ministry of Agriculture, Alhaji Rasaq Kolawole, was also arraigned in Ibadan for allegedly defrauding one Ibikunle Alonge of N4,400.000.
Kolawole was arraigned before Justice Aderonke Aderemi of the Oyo State High Court on Wednesday, on one-count charge of obtaining money under false pretence.
The offence is against Section 1 (2) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006 and punishable under Section 1 (3) of the same Act.
It was gathered that the victim, Ibikunle had written a petition to the EFCC in which he accused the top public servant of fraudulently collecting the sum from him as part payment for a piece of land situated at Alabata Olosoko area of Moniya, Ibadan.
He further alleged that it was after making the payment that he got to know that the land actually belonged to one Mrs. Ali (now deceased), adding that all efforts to get a refund was unsuccessful.
The one- count charge read: “That you, Alhaji Kolawole Rasaq on or about the 2nd of October, 2018, at Ibadan within the Ibadan Judicial Division of this honourable court with intent to defraud, obtained the sum of N4,400,000 from one Alonge Ibikunle through Pastor Adeyemi Fabayo by falsely pretending that it was part payment of the cost price of eleven and half plots of land situated, lying and being at Alabata Olokoso area, via Moniya area, Ibadan which you purported to have sold to him.
Although Kolawole pleaded not-guilty to the charge,the prosecuting counsel, Dr. Ben Ubi, prayed the court for a date for the commencement of trial and Justice Aderemi admitted the defendant to bail on self- recognizance and adjourned the matter to June 24 and 25, 2020 for trail.
On his part, Peter Adeleke
who was arraigned before Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court 2, Osogbo, Osun State, found him guilty of a one-count amended charge of impersonation.
It was learnt that the convict was earlier arraigned on October 7, 2019 on a six-count charge, bordering on obtaining money under false pretence, contrary to Section 1(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related (Offences) Act, 2006 and punishable under Section 1(3) of the same Act; and for impersonation, contrary to Section 22(2) (b) (i) and punishable under Section 22 (2) (b) of the Cyber Crimes (Prohibition, Prevention Etc) Act, 2015. He pleaded not guilty to the charges.
As the trail progressed, Adeleke was said to have switched gear and approached the prosecution for a plea bargain hence the charge was amended and he was consequently re-arraigned on a one-count amended charge of impersonation to which he pleaded guilty.
Following his guilty plea, prosecuting counsel, Shamsuddeen Bashir, prayed the court to accept the terms of the plea bargain and convict him accordingly.
The presiding judge consequently found him guilty as charged and sentenced him to one year imprisonment.
The judge also made a consequential order for the convict to restitute his victim the sum of $USD450 (Four Hundred and Fifty United States of American Dollars), through the EFCC and to forfeit his iPhone 6 handset to the Federal Government of Nigeria.
