Court Jails Online Marketer Six Months In Port Harcourt

One Joseph Ojo Balogun has been sentenced to a 6 months prison term for internet scam.

Justice M. I Sanni of the Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt convicted and sentenced Mr Balogun (a.k.a Robert Alu) and Balogun Abayomi to six months imprisonment for obtaining money under false pretence using a fraudulent online marketing deals.

Balogun was arraigned by the Port Harcourt’s Zonal office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, in 2017 on two – count charges, bordering on obtaining money under false pretence contrary to section 1(i)(a) of Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006 and punishable under Section 1(3) of the same Act.

During the trial Balogun opted for a plea bargain by changing his plea to “guilty” which paved way for his conviction.

The Prosecution Counsel Adaugo and Defence Counsel, Andrew Adeniti agreed on the change of plea.

Justice Sani convicted him accordingly and sentenced him to six months imprisonment, without an option of fine.

The convict was also ordered to restitute the sum of N130,000 only he fraudulently collected from his victims.

Balogun was arrested when he posed as a marketing officer of an online marketing company (jiji.ng.com) and advertised an apple Iphone 6 for sale, at the rate of N90,000 (Ninety Thousand Naira) only.

Two customers fell victim to the phony deal. The first victim made a part- payment of N50,000 (Fifty Thousand Naira) only and the second victim made a full payment of N90,000.

The EFCC’s investigations showed that Balogun neither worked for the online marketing company nor had the iPhone he advertised to the public.

It was discovered that he was running seven different bank accounts with which he was swindling his victims.