Have you heard the one about the university professor who was offered a fake doctorate degree by a scam artist?
Have you heard the one about the university professor who was offered a fake doctorate degree by a scam artist?
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The Federal High Court in Abuja heard that one today, in a case where a fake “Professor David Iornem” last year attempted to sell to Professor Is-haq Oloyede, a former Vice Chancellor of the University of Ilorin, a fake doctorate degree of a fake Commonwealth University, Belize, for $11,550.
Docked by the Independent Corrupt Practices and 0ther Related Offenses Commission (ICPC) today was one David Iornem, who is charged him with three counts of operating an illegal university in Abuja.
The anti-graft agency said Iornem fraudulently collected money amounting to $17,300 from three different people to obtain admission into his ‘university.’
Among his victims, in addition to Professor Is-haq Oloyede, the ICPC also named Akinkuotu Albert Oluwatoyin and Jamilu Rabiu Sani, but Iornem pleaded not guilty to the charges. It is unclear if Professor Oloyede actually parted with the sum of $11,550, and how.
Prosecution counsel Ebenezer Shogunle told the court that the commission was ready to bring its witnesses to prove its case, and asked for a short adjournment.
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J.I Abagu, counsel to Mr. Iornem, prayed the court to admit the accused person to bail. The prosecution did not oppose that application but urged the court to apply such terms as would ensure the accused person will be available to stand trial.
Justice A.R Mohammed granted the bail application in the sum of N100,000 with one surety in like sum who must be a civil servant in the employment of the Federal Government or any of its agencies.
The surety is also to swear to an affidavit of means and drop his passport, which must be current, with the court registry.
Justice Mohammed however held that the accused person be remanded in Kuje Prison pending satisfaction of his bail conditions, and adjourned the case to September 19 for trial.
The three-count charge reads:
*That you, David Iornem, (m) on or about the 4th day of July, 2012 at Abuja, with intention to defraud, attempted to obtain the total sum of $11,550 (Eleven thousand, five hundred and fifty Dollars) from one Professor Is-haq Oloyede by falsely representing yourself to be “Professor David Iornem” and solicited payment of the said sum of $11,550 (Eleven thousand, five hundred and fifty Dollars) from Professor Is-haq Oloyede for the award of an academic doctorate degree of COMMONWEALTH UNIVERSITY, BELIZE when you know that the said Commonwealth University, Belize is a fake and unaccredited university owned and operated by you, and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 8(b) and punishable under Section 1(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006.
*That you, David Iornem, (m) on or about the 21st day of January, 2013 at Abuja, with intention to defraud, obtained the sum of $5,000 (Five thousand United States Dollars) from one Akinkiotu Albert Oluwatoyin by falsely representing yourself to be ‘Professor David Iornem’ and pretending to offer admission to the said Akinkuotu Albert Oluwatoyin to pursue a degree of doctor of philosophy in management of the COMMONWEALTH UNIVERSITY, BELIZE when you know that the said Commonwealth University Belize is a fake and unaccredited university owned and operated by you and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1(1) and punishable under Section 1(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related offences Act, 2006.
*That you, David Iornem, (m) on or about the 23th May, 2013 at Abuja, received the sum of $800 (Eight hundred Dollars) from one Jamilu Rabiu Sani as application form fee and good faith deposit for admission into COMMONWEALTH UNIVERSITY, BELIZE when you know that the said Commonwealth University Belize is a fake and unaccredited university owned and operated by you and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1(1) and punishable under Section 1(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006.
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