Internet Fraudster Bags 4 Months Jail In Abeokuta

Justice Mohammed Abubarkar of the Federal High Court, Abeokuta on Tuesday, June 18, 2019, sentenced one Ogunkoya Korede to four months in prison for failing to cooperate with officials of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, during investigations into his fraudulent activities.

Ogunkoya, also known as Erica Vallot, bagged the jail term after the court found him guilty of a one-count amended charge filed against him by the Ibadan zonal office of the Commission. He was also fined N20,000 (Twenty Thousand Naira).

He had denied ownership of a house traced to him in the course of investigation.

The charge reads: “That you, Ogunkoya Korede (a.k.a Erica Vallot) in September 2018, in Abeokuta, Ogun State, within the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court, failed to comply with lawful enquiry made from you, pursuant to Section 38 (1) of the Economic and Financial Crimes (Establishment) Act, 2004 by Inspector Umar Iyah, an authorized agent of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, when you failed to disclose receipts of properties you obtained under false pretences and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 38 (1) and (2)(b) of Economic and Financial Crimes (Establishment)Act, 2004.

The defendant pleaded guilty to the amended charge.

The charge was a product of a plea bargain agreement between him and the Commission as contained in a document jointly signed by the prosecution counsel, Shamsudeen Bashir, and defence counsel Agnes Okoronkwo.

Apart from the jail term and fine imposed, the judge also ordered that the convict forfeits to the Federal Government of Nigeria one Apple laptop, one Samsung Galaxy S8+ phone, one laptop charger and one phone charger, which were linked to his crime.