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In a rather unusual case, a Magistrate Court sitting in Lagos has ordered a young lady identified as Jennifer to pay the sum of ₦450,000 in damages after she was found guilty of obtaining money under false pretenses.
According to court records, Jennifer allegedly collected ₦30,000 from a man named Emmanuel, who claimed he sent her the money for transport fare in anticipation of her visiting him. However, after receiving the funds, she reportedly failed to show up and subsequently cut off communication with him.
Emmanuel later filed a complaint, labeling the act as “fraudulent extortion.” After reviewing the matter, the court ruled that Jennifer’s actions amounted to deception and financial exploitation, thereby awarding Emmanuel damages far exceeding the original transport fare.
The presiding Magistrate emphasized that cases of “transport fare fraud” are becoming alarmingly common and serve as a form of cyber-enabled extortion. The judgment, though surprising to many, was intended to serve as a deterrent to others engaging in similar practices.
