ABSTRACT

Crime is a dynamic social phenomenon that, to some extent, serves as a measurement of societal well-being. Social, economic, and political challenges are intertwined, and they jointly sustain dynamics that have a persistent impact on safety and security, particularly in emerging countries. The destabilising impact of fraud on society poses a significant threat to the security and sovereignty of the countries most impacted. The volatile commodity prices and mounting domestic and foreign debt make hard currency and organized crime rewards most attractive, particularly in impoverished African countries. The prevalence of fraud in a growing society like Nigeria consistently takes on a “yeast” effect as it is a rising menace in the country. This nefarious act draws its skeletal structure from section 419 of the criminal code that typifies the extent to which this act is aggravated.