Lecturer pleads guilty to romance scam in Kwara

EFCC

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Monday arraigned a lecturer of the Kwara State College of Health Technology, Offa Opashola Abdullahi on one count charge of romance scam.

Mr Abdullahi was arraigned before Justice Adenike Akinpelu of the Kwara State High Court, Ilorin.

He was among the 32 internet fraud suspects arrested in Offa on September 14, 2020.

The EFCC said his offence, romance scam, contravenes Section 95 of the Penal Code and punishable under Section 324 of the same law.

The embattled lecturer pleaded ‘guilty’ to the charge.

Following his plea, EFCC counsel Andrew Akoja led an operative of the EFCC Paul Kera in evidence to review the facts of the case.

Mr Kera narrated how investigation on a petition received by the commission on the activities of internet fraudsters operating in the Offa area of Kwara State led to the arrest of the defendant.

“Our findings revealed that the defendant created an email address which he was using to defraud unsuspecting victims. During a search executed in his house, we recovered an Infinix Nokia phone which he used as instrumentality of the crime. The defendant was taken to our Office, where he volunteered his statement,” he said.

Justice Akinpelu remanded the defendant in EFCC custody and fixed February 23 for judgment.