Court jails UNILORIN student for alleged fraud

Kwara state High Court Tuesday sentenced 19 year-old Chemistry student of the University of Ilorin, Ajayi Joshua Oluwatobi to nine months imprisonment for defrauding three students seeking for accommodation.

Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Ilorin zone dragged the convict before the court after authorities of UNILORIN reported his conduct to the commission.

The charge against him reads “That you, Ajayi Joshua Oluwatobiloba, in the month of November 2019, in Ilorin, within the jurisdiction of this court, did cheat by deceiving one Anjorin Oluwabukolami Eniola, a University of Ilorin student when you fraudulently induced her to pay N45,000 into the GTbank account 045262140 of one Hassan Adefemi Daniel for hostel accommodation, a representation you knew to be false and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 320 of the Penal Code and punishable under section 322 of the same law.”

Defence counsel J.AO Ayinde in his allocutos urged the court to temper justice with mercy and give his client an option of fine rather than custodial sentence.

But prosecution counsel, Andrew Akoja said that “the issue of sentencing is within the discretion of the court, I want the court to use its discretion in sentencing the convict.”

After hearing the parties presiding Judge Sikiru Oyinloye said “the defendant was brought before this honorable court on a three count charges. The charges were read to him and he pleaded guilty, this court accepts the evidence of the prosecution, the one way testimonies of the sole prosecution witness, the unchallenged and uncontradicted testimonies.

“This honourable court is of the view that the prosecution has proved its case beyond reasonable doubt, the court hereby finds you, Ajayi Joshua Oluwatobi guilty of count one, two and three. You are hereby convicted for the offence.”

According to him, the sentence is to run concurrently while the convict is to also pay a fine of N105, 000.