Former spokesperson of the Rivers State Police Command, Grace Iringe-Koko, has warned that collecting transport fare from a man with an agreement to visit him and deliberately refusing to honour the arrangement could amount to obtaining money by false pretence.
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Iringe-Koko made the statement in a short video which has resurfaced on social media.
The footage, which originally circulated in September 2025 while she served as Police Public Relations Officer of the Rivers State Command, shows the police officer addressing women directly on the possible legal implications of accepting transport money without honouring the stated purpose for which it was sent.
“Why will you collect transport fare from a man without going to see him? It’s a punishable offence. It is obtaining money under false pretence. 419,” Iringe-Koko said.
“I’m here to give you this piece of information because I’m your number one bestie.”
Her comments generated widespread debate, particularly over whether merely collecting transport fare and subsequently failing to attend a proposed meeting automatically constitutes a criminal offence.
The expression “419” is commonly used in Nigeria to describe obtaining property by false pretence, deriving from Section 419 of the Criminal Code.
Under the provision, a person who, by false pretence and with intent to defraud, obtains from another person anything capable of being stolen, or induces another person to deliver such property, commits a felony.
@thenigerialawyer Receiving Transport Money From A Man And Failing To Show Up Could Amount To ‘419’, Land You In Jail” — Rivers Police Spokesperson #creatorsearchinsights #fyp??viral??tiktok ♬ original sound – TheNigeriaLawyer
However, criminal liability does not arise merely because a person receives money and later fails to carry out an arrangement.
For an allegation of obtaining by false pretence to succeed, the prosecution would ordinarily be required to establish the existence of a false representation, knowledge of its falsity, an intention to defraud and that the representation induced the complainant to part with the property.
The Supreme Court has also previously drawn a distinction between a false representation of an existing fact and a mere promise concerning future conduct. In Lawal v. The Queen, the apex court held that a promise concerning future conduct, even where the promise was not subsequently fulfilled, would not by itself necessarily establish the offence of obtaining by false pretence.
Consequently, whether collecting transport fare and failing to show up constitutes a criminal offence would depend on the circumstances and evidence showing that the recipient acted dishonestly and with the necessary fraudulent intention from the outset.
For example, evidence that a person deliberately invented facts or circumstances in order to induce another person to send money could raise different legal considerations from a situation where a genuine plan existed but was later cancelled or abandoned.
The resurfaced video has nevertheless revived debate over financial dealings arising from relationships and social-media interactions, particularly where money is transferred on the strength of representations or promises made between individuals.
Iringe-Koko was the Rivers State Police Public Relations Officer when the video was recorded. She ceased serving in that capacity in April 2026 following the appointment of ASP Agabe Blessing Kaborlo as the command’s new spokesperson.
Her central warning in the video remains that individuals should avoid intentionally obtaining money from others through dishonest representations, irrespective of the amount involved.
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