In a recent legal development, a Nigerian individual by the name of Kolawole Erinle, who served as the Managing Director of Rinde-Remdex Nigeria Limited, has been convicted and sentenced to 12 years in prison for a significant fraud case. Erinle’s actions led to the fraudulent acquisition of approximately $1.4 million from Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences (KCUMB) in the United States.
The Conviction:
The conviction stems from a trial held at the Special Offences Court in Ikeja, Lagos State, which found Erinle guilty of three charges: conspiracy, retention of proceeds of criminal conduct, and obtaining money under false pretenses. Additionally, Edward Dada, a co-conspirator in the case, is still at large.
The Deceptive Scheme:
The heart of the matter revolves around the creation of a fictitious online identity. Erinle and Dada posed as representatives of J.E. Dunn, a legitimate American construction company. To perpetrate their deception, they fabricated a fake domain name, ‘jedunn.org,’ with the sole intention of deceiving KCUMB and gaining a significant financial advantage.
Elaborating on the Scheme:
The fraudulent scheme involved intricate maneuvers. Erinle and Dada utilized the counterfeit domain name to impersonate J.E. Dunn through various means, including email correspondence. By doing so, they created an illusion of authenticity that proved costly for KCUMB.
A Troubling History:
A critical aspect of this case is Erinle’s prior conviction for bank fraud in the United States. Despite serving a 23-month prison sentence for his previous conviction, Erinle continued to engage in fraudulent activities, ultimately leading to his recent conviction.
Legal Consequences:
As a consequence of the court’s judgment, Erinle received a five-year sentence on one count and a 12-year sentence on another, both running concurrently from February 10, 2023, when he was remanded by the court. Additionally, Rinde-Remdex Nigeria Limited, the company of which Erinle was the Managing Director, was slapped with a fine of N50 million. Furthermore, the company has been ordered to be wound up by the Corporate Affairs Commission, with the proceeds directed to the Federal Government of Nigeria. As part of the restitution process, the court also mandated the convicts to compensate the victim.
Recovery of Funds:
To ensure justice and recovery of funds, the court made a significant ruling. It ordered the sale of all properties and vehicles seized from Erinle and Rinde-Remdex Nigeria Limited by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). The proceeds from these sales will be applied as restitution to the victim, with the assistance of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
Conclusion:
This case serves as a stark reminder of the severe consequences associated with financial fraud and cybercrime. It highlights the importance of international cooperation between Nigerian authorities and global agencies, such as the FBI, to combat and bring to justice those involved in fraudulent activities. It also underscores the need for vigilance and caution when dealing with online transactions and the importance of verifying the authenticity of entities to prevent falling victim to such scams.
Source: https://dailypost.ng/2023/10/06/ex-convict-bags-12-years-jail-term-for-1-4m-fraud/
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