Oluwasola was charged by the Kaduna Zonal command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, on one count of cheating and obtaining money by false pretence.
This was disclosed on the official X page of the EFCC on Thursday.
According to the post, Oluwasola’s journey to the Correctional Centre began when a petitioner, Suzzie Solomon, petitioned the EFCC alleging that she came across a beauty contest post on WhatsApp and indicated interest.
The post revealed that Solomon joined the group and participated after which she was selected as one of the contestants.
She said she was constantly making payments for votes amounting to N740,000, to an account provided by the group admin with no winner announced.
She was asked to pay more money and sensing foul play, she petitioned the EFCC.
The investigation further revealed that the entire scheme, tagged “Online Photo Contest,” was designed by the suspect in 2020, to defraud unsuspecting members of the public of their money.
The charge reads: “That you Samson Oluwasola sometime in March 2023 in Kaduna, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, fraudulently induced one Solomon Suzie to deliver to you the sum of N740,000 for an online photo contest, a pretence which you knew to be false and you thereby committed the offence of cheating contrary to Section 306(a) and punishable under Section 307 of the Penal Code Law of Kaduna State, 2017.”
Oluwasola pleaded guilty to the charge preferred against him.
Based on his plea, prosecution counsel, M. Lawal prayed the court to convict and sentence him accordingly. Justice Isiaka, thereafter sentenced and convicted Samson to 10 years imprisonment.
The post added that Oluwasola forfeited two iPhones, a Mercedes Benz E350 2011 model, and a Toyota Camry 2011 XLE to the Federal Government.
He also returned N740,000 to the victim.
