According to The Cable, the Nigerian lady who went viral after a courtroom video showed her being sentenced for collecting transport money from a man but failing to visit him has spoken publicly about the incident.
Identified as Jennifer, she was handed a seven-year jail term with an option of paying a N450,000 fine after being sued by a man named Emmanuel, who claimed she breached a promise to see him after receiving N50,000 from him.
In a now-viral video, Jennifer confirmed that she had since paid the fine, describing the entire episode as both “surprising and unnecessary.” She explained that she met Emmanuel online but had never seen him in person. According to her, the relationship remained virtual until Emmanuel insisted she should travel from Asaba to Abuja to meet him.
Jennifer said she declined, asking him instead to visit her first since they had no prior physical interaction. Emmanuel, however, rejected the suggestion, stating he would not travel to see a woman. Despite the disagreement, Jennifer said Emmanuel later sent her N50,000, claiming it was her transportation fare, and expected her to show up the following day.
“I did not reply to his message because I never agreed to travel,” Jennifer said. “The next day, he kept asking why I was not there. Then, his friends started calling and threatening me. I became uncomfortable and reached out to him, asking for his account details so I could return the money. He refused.”
She added that after a second attempt to refund the money failed, she suggested Emmanuel use it to come to her city instead. But by then, the matter had already escalated into a lawsuit.
The legal proceedings ended with Jennifer being convicted and given the option of a hefty fine. She said she eventually paid N450,000 to settle the case, insisting the amount meant little to her compared to the public attention it generated.
“Honestly, it was shocking. How can N50,000 turn into N450,000? But I thank God it is over. I don’t want to say much more because the case has been sorted,” she added.
