First-class graduate, accomplice bag 12 months imprisonment for $12,000 Internet scam

An Ikeja High Court in Lagos on Tuesday sentenced a first-class graduate from Lead City University, Ibadan, Olakunle Akanni, for defrauding an American woman, Diana Huizenga, of over 12,000 dollars (N1.92 million) through an internet love scam.

Justice Lateef Lawal-Akapo sentenced 23-year-old Akanni to one year imprisonment after he pleaded guilty to the offence during his re-arraignment.

One of his accomplices, Adesina Akinsola, 30, was also given a similar sentence by the judge.

The judge convicted the duo of a two-count charge of conspiracy and obtaining money under false pretences preferred against them.

Lawal-Akapo,however, adjourned the sentencing of their co-accused, 30-year-old Dele Oshuntogun, till Nov. 17.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the convicts had entered a plea bargain with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Lawal-Akapo consequently sentenced them to one year imprisonment on each of the counts.

He said the sentences were to run concurrently beginning from the day the judgment was delivered.

“The first defendant, Akanni, is to pay the sum of N2 million which is the equivalent of $12, 820 to the victim (Huizenga), as restitution.

“Also, the third defendant, Akinsola, is to pay the sum of N500, 000 to the victim as restitution,” the judge ordered.

He also ordered them to write an undertaking to be submitted to the EFCC that they would be of good behaviour upon their release from prison custody.

First-class graduate, accomplice bag 12 months imprisonment for $12,000 Internet scam