Student may get 15 years in jail over N16,000 Facebook fraud

A 21-year-old student of Osun State Polytech­nic, Adaramaja Ola­wale, was yesterday docked for alleged Facebook fraud valued at N16, 000.

Olawale, who resides at Abeokuta Street in Mushin, Lagos State, is standing trial at an Ikeja Magistrates’ Court in Lagos, on a two-count charge of fraud and stealing.

The prosecutor, Sgt. Yomi Egunjobi, told the court that the accused committed the offences on July 28, at No. 4, Moroti Bankole St., Ojodu area of Lagos State.

Egunjobi alleged that the Olawale made a false presen­tation on Facebook that one Alebiosu Adebola commit­ted fraud. He said the accused used the complainant’s name to defraud her friends on Fa­cebook.

“Olawale hacked into the complainant’s Facebook ac­count and changed her pass­word. Through fraudulent means, the accused collect­ed money and recharge cards amounting to N16,000 from the complainant’s Facebook friends.

“The complainant’s friends called her to confirm if she were the one chatting with them and requesting for mon­ey and recharge cards,” the prosecutor revealed.

The Egunjobi said that the Olawale was apprehended in Osun by the police after inves­tigations were conducted.

Egunjobi disclosed that the offences violated Sections 285 and 312 (a), (b) of the Crimi­nal Law of Lagos State, 2011. This could earn Olawale 15 years imprisonment if con­victed according to section 312.

Olawale, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges and was granted a N50,000 bail by the presiding magistrate, Mrs. M.O Oshinbajo while the case was adjourned to September 1 for mention.