The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has said a Nigerian undergraduate was wrongly charged for $5400 fraud in Canada.

The EFCC in a statement by its spokeman, Wilson Uwujaren said the victim, Tony Adebero was a student of Thompson Rivers University in British Columbia, Canada.

The statement said a 20-year-old alleged fraudster in Nigeria used Adebero’s account to move illicit funds without his permission.

The anti-graft agency said investigations showed that the fraud was perpetrated by one Yusuf Balogun, who was using the nickname, Monica Donal.

Alabi was said to have masterminded the theft of $5,400 (Canadian dollars) from a catering entertainment outfit in Brantford, Canada, but the undergraduate whose account was used, was arrested in Toronto, Canada on charges of wire fraud.

The EFCC said, “Tony was expecting to receive his tuition from his dad, Mr. Oyewole Adebero, and did not suspect fraud when his account was credited by his bank. He, however, became worried when few days after, he got a call from his bank, TD Canada Trust Bank, asking for details of the person who had transferred money to his account, within 12 hours.

“Tony was said to have immediately called his father, who in turn, contacted a bureau de change operator, Kassim Ishola, who then said that he gave the money to one Idris Oni to transfer but Idris mentioned Balogun.

“According to Oni, Balogun identified one Bacon Jamie Cecil as the person that actually wired the funds to Tony in Canada. Unfortunately, Bacon Jamie Cecil was discovered to be a fake name, prompting the arrest of Tony in Canada. The undergraduate’s father subsequently wrote a petition to the EFCC on June 2, 2017.”

Mr. Adebero said his son was charged to court for internet fraud.

He said he faced difficulty in sending money to his son in Canada and was later introduced to a bureau de change operator that would help transfer the funds to his son.

Azeez