University of Ilorin student, Itanola Abdulsamad will on 29 October face fresh trial before Justice Sikiru Oyinloye of the Kwara State High Court, Ilorin for alleged internet fraud.

This followed the suspect’s change of plea from “guilty” to “not guilty” on Tuesday during proceedings.

Consequently the judge adjourned the case for fresh trial.

The suspect was facing prosecution by the Ilorin Zonal Office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC on a 10-count charge of internet fraud.

He had pleaded guilty upon his arraignment on Friday, 2 October.

Abdulsamad however made a dramatic switch to “not guilty,” on Tuesday on his re-arraignment on amended four-count charge.

This prompted the judge to adjourn the matter, preparatory to his fresh trial.

Preceding the defendant’s change of plea, his counsel, Adewale Olatunde, informed the court of his client’s decision.

“My Lord, my client has informed me that he wants to change his plea from ‘guilty’ to ‘not guilty’.

“I humbly urge your lordship to allow the charge be read to the defendant for him to change his plea,” Olatunde said.

Justice Oyinloye granted the prayer of the defence counsel, which saw the defendant switch to a “not guilty” plea to the amended four-count charge.

Count two of the amended charge read: “That you, Itanola Abdulsamad, Popoola Afolami (at large) and Olayeni Yemi (at large) sometime between 2018 and 2019, at Ilorin within the judicial division of the Kwara State High Court, fraudulently induced several unsuspecting foreigners vide the internet to deliver to you digital currency from which you benefited $950 (Nine Hundred and Fifty United States Dollars) and thereby committed an offence, contrary to Section 321 of the Penal Code and punishable under Section 324 of the same Penal Code.”