For allegedly defrauding an American lady, Kathy Lunsford through the
internet under the pretext of marriage, a University of Lagos student,
Michael Opaleye has been sent to jail by a Lagos State High Court
Opaleye was sentenced to 18 months imprisonment today by Justice
Aishat Opesanwo for defrauding Miss Kathy Lunsford, of 9,200 US dollars
under the pretext of getting married to her.
The convict who is studying computer science at UNILAG had pleaded
guilty to
the charge of obtaining by false pretence and forgery.
He had entered into a plea bargain deal with the Economic and
Financial Crimes Commission(EFCC) and offered to pay back the money to
his victim.
The judge in her judgment, said the sentence would commence on 15 March when he was first arraigned before the court.
She also ordered Opaleye after his release from prison,to pay
N100,000 monthly to the victim through the EFCC until he refunded the
total amount involved in the scam.
The convict is also to forfeit the electronic appliances and other
items purchased with the proceeds of the crime, which were recovered
from his house during the investigation, to the EFCC.
EFCC counsel, Mr Anselem Ozioko said Opaleye had between 2008 and
2011, swindled Lunsford by making a phoney marriage proposal to her
through e-mail.
He said Lunsford had sent Opaleye the said amount as part of his
travelling expenses from the United Kingdom to the United States of
America to facilitate their marriage.
Ozioko said the defendant forged a Nigeria drivers Licence No.
WWD24174AAJ, which he claimed was issued by the Federal Road Safety
Commission (FRSC).
He said the Opaleye forged a bank draft which he claimed was issued by the Bank of Ireland, Dublin.
The offences according to him had contravened Sections 419 and 467 of the Criminal Code Laws of Lagos State 2003.
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