Love scam: EFCC returns N19m, duplex, car, phones to American

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has handed over property recovered from a convicted fraudster, Aisosa Kelvin Ohue, to an American victim, Cheryldene Cook.

The property which included the sum of N19 million, a three-bedroom semi-detached duplex at Ward 36A Amagba Community in Oredo Local Government Area of Edo State, a Lexus E350 saloon car, an iPhone 13 Pro Max, and a Samsung A31 phone were presented to the American victim by the Zonal Commander, ACE I Adebayo Adeniyi, and the Head, Advanced Fee Fraud Section 1, ACE II Jimoh Rauf, in Abuja, on Thursday, September 7, 2023.

Cook who flew in from the United States of America to receive the items was accompanied to the EFCC office by her lawyer, Dr. Mike Nwosu.

She however expressed her appreciation to the anti-graft agency for the recovery.

Justice C.E Nwecheonwu of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Kuje, had in January ordered the forfeiture of the property after Orhue was convicted of a three-count charge bordering on obtaining money by false pretense.

READ ALSO: EFCC arrests 20 internet fraudsters in Ibadan

The internet fraudster, according to EFCC, cheated the victim in a love scam while pretending to be a famous actor, Frederick Leonard.

Count one of the charges read: “That you, Aiosa Kelvin Orhue (AKA Fredrick Leonard) sometimes in 2021, at Abuja within the jurisdiction of the Honourable Court, by false pretense and with intent to defraud obtained the sum of N104,000,000 only from one Cheryldene Cook, that you are one Frederick Leonard who is in love with her and you made her to believe that you are going to marry her which you knew to be false and you  thereby  committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Sections 1 (1)(a) and 1 (3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006 respectively.”

The Star