Canada To Deport Nigerian Conman

A Nigerian immigrant, who pulled off an elaborate e-mail scam that cost a retired Winnipeg doctor more than $35,000, has been denied release back into the community while he awaits deportation.

Toluwalade Alonge Owolabi, 37, told the Federal Immigration and Refugee Board, Tuesday, that he wants to return to Toronto to spend time with his sisters and close down his trucking business before Canadian authorities ship him home.

He has just been granted parole after serving part of a 30-month sentence he received last year. Owolabi’s bid was rejected after the board ruled he posed a serious “flight risk” and would likely disappear if granted his freedom. He will remain in custody until his flight back to Nigeria can be arranged, which is expected to happen in the first week of March.

Owolabi pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit fraud, for his role in the international con, which was uncovered in 2007, following an undercover Winnipeg police operation. A retired Winnipeg doctor was duped into thinking he was in line to inherit more than $1 million, which he planned to donate to Third World countries in their ongoing battle against the deadly malaria. In fact, the 84-year-old man was the victim of a common hoax that rarely leads to arrest.

The victim — a world-renowned expert on malaria, who has done extensive work with the World Health Organization — was contacted with an offer that must have appeared too good to be true. The mysterious e-mailer said he would be in line for a massive inheritance if he wired more than $35,000 to a bank in Ghana, Africa. The senior complied — moving money from a Swiss bank account he owned — and was expecting a windfall in return.

The victim called police after he was asked for more money, and Owolabi was arrested after he flew to Winnipeg from Toronto to meet the victim and collect another payment of $7,800.

And we blame our leaders? Who should we really blame here?

Canada has running water, 24 hr electricity, plenty of food, excellent world class health care, and ample job opportunities.


What's the excuse this time?

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~~Nigerians already have a bad name and its not getting any better~~

Nigerian this, Nigerian that. Its serious oh!
This is a fool that has a trucking business getting involved in international email scam.I am sure that may not be his 1st time and maybe he even got the money for the trucking business through such means.
Now,they have caught the Canadian lead,what about the conspirators in Ghana?
Corruption has become part of our genetic makeup and I am sure the "C" in the DNA strand for Nigerians is Corruption because we always glorify easy wealth and financial shortcuts.
And this is worse off now because these fools are gonna stereotype other Nigerians visiting and living in the country (Canada) in future.Is Nigeria the only country in Africa?

How is this topic related to politics. These tribalists sef.

@funmi

Who are the tribalists?

People People, pleaser relax. The trucking business is a front to cover his other illegal avenues. There are plenty of them over here who run such fake companies - well the companies are registered and real - but their main source of income is from their scam.

As for the guy that said how come people still get scammed despite the high publicity surrounding 419. Well I use this logic to answer your question. How come every one do not have internet access in nigeria despite it becoming a "must need"? The fact is there are old people or people who do not know what 419 and are not up to date like you and me on this particular issue. Further more, the scams are getting more sophisticated ever than before.

Not all nigerian in canada or the USA are 419. some are hard working serving the society. 80% or more of nigerian living in canada or the USA do not a criminal record. and alot of nigerian do not have one too in the USA.  1 in millions.

nigerian own several business in canada and the USA.  From schools, medical company, oil services, employment agency, clinic, law chambers, trucking, texile, food processing company and many more,  So 1 in millions in north america does not mean all is bad.