A Kwara State High Court sitting in Ilorin, has sentenced a man, Kolade Balogun, to control traffic at the Government Reservation Area (GRA), Ilorin for three months, after finding him guilty of committing Internet fraud.
Justice Sikiru Oyinloye, handed down the punishment to Balogun on Friday.
He also ordered Balogun to pay a N50,000 fine, in addition to controlling traffic at the junction behind the state Ministry of Physical Planning from August 17 to October 17.
Also, he is to forfeit items recovered from him, including phones and laptops to the Federal Government.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), had on Thursday, brought Balogun before the court on a one-count charge fraudulently committed an offence by presenting himself as a white man named Mr William Davis, alias Behemooth, to an unsuspecting white woman on a dating site, SeekingArrangement.
The charge read, “That you, Kolade Balogun (aka William Davis, alias Behemooth), sometime in March 2020 or thereabout, at Ilorin, Kwara State, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, attempted to commit an offence of cheating by personation by pretending and representing yourself to be a white man called William Davis, alias Behemooth, to an unsuspecting white woman on a dating site….”
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The offence, according to the prosecution, was contrary to and punishable under Section 95 of the Penal Code Law of Northern Nigeria.
When the charge was read to Balogun in court, he pleaded guilty. The prosecuting counsel, Aliyu Adebayo, in his submission, asked the court to convict the defendant based on his plea, proof of evidence and exhibits tendered before the court.
Counsel to the defendant, Rotimi Oyagbola, however, prayed the judge to temper justice with mercy, arguing that his client was a first-time offender.
In sentencing Balogun, Justice Oyinloye, held that the prosecution had proved its case beyond reasonable doubt, considering the unchallenged testimonies of its witness.
