LAUTECH Undergraduate Jailed Over $104,500 Scam

A 500-level student of the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, Oyo State, Adebowale Abiola, has been jailed for one year by Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo of the Lagos State Special Offences Court over $104,500 fraud.

Abiola was arrested after the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission received a report on the activities of Internet fraudsters in the Lekki area of Lagos.

This student who presented himself as Burton J. Smith, a citizen of the United States of American and former military officer, defrauded an American known as Courtney Kaye.

After his arrest, he was arraigned on an amended one-count charge bordering on possession of fraudulent documents containing false pretence and he pleaded guilty to the charge.

Abiola pleaded ‘guilty’ to the charge, prosecution counsel, I. A. Mohammed, told the court about his plea bargain.

Justice O. A. Taiwo sentenced him to one year imprisonment, with an option of N300,000 fine.