Nigerian jailed for defrauding American women of over N700k

email scam hacking 419

A Federal High Court sitting in Osogbo, Osun State on Monday sentenced a man, Muftau Omobolaji, to nine months in jail without an option of fine for engaging in internet fraud.

Mr Omobolaji, 31, defrauded some American women of $1,850 (N715,654) on the presumption that he was a Canadian.

An official of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Asso Haruna, while addressing the court, explained that the father of three was apprehended by the anti-graft agency in Osogbo in October 2019.

Mr Haruna added that upon his arrest, the commission recovered from him a Lexus EX350 car with number plate KSF 975 FK, an Infinix phone and the sum of $1,850.

EFCC prosecutor, Muritala Usman, said the convict acted in contravention of the provisions of the Cyber Crime Act.

Omobolaji was said to have sought plea bargain after owning up to the crime.

When asked by the court how he got involved in the crime, the convict said he was introduced to the crime, while participating in the mandatory one year National Youth Service Corps scheme.

He, however, promised never to return to the crime if pardoned by the court.

Justice Peter Lifu said in his judgement that the jail term should run from October 2019 when the convict was first arrested by the EFCC.