By Isah Aliyu Chiroma
For years, it seemed like easy money. A man meets a woman online, they chat, and at some point he offers her transport fare to come and visit. She collects the money, promises to come, but never shows up.
For many ladies, it was nothing more than a harmless trick, a quick way to get some cash without strings attached. But the tide often turns the blurry line between social norms and legal obligations.
Courts in Nigeria are now treating these “T-fare scams” as a form of deception, and women who once thought it was normal are now facing heavy fines, public shame, and even the threat of jail.
Recent cases in Lagos and Osun have sent a strong message: collecting transport fare under false pretence is no longer business as usual.
In Lagos, a young woman, Jennifer, was dragged before a Magistrate’s Court after taking ₦50,000 from a man she met online.
The man, Emmanuel, who lives in Abuja, claimed Jennifer promised to visit him from Asaba but never showed up. The court ruled in Emmanuel’s favour, slamming Jennifer with a fine of ₦450,000 for what it described as “breach of promise.”
In another case in Osun, a woman named Rhoda Adu accepted just ₦3,000 from her boyfriend, Eru Dupe. When she failed to visit, he took the matter to court armed with mobile transaction records and WhatsApp messages.
To Rhoda’s shock, the court not only ordered her to refund the money but also imposed a penalty of ₦100,000 plus an additional ₦50,000 for emotional damages.
These rulings have gone viral online, sparking fierce debates. Some Nigerians are cheering the judgments, saying they are long overdue. “Lesson to other girls,” one Facebook user commented.
Another wrote bluntly: “If you don’t want to scam him, why did you send your account number?” For these supporters, the courts are simply enforcing accountability in a digital age where deception has become too common.
Others, however, argue the fines are excessive and that turning failed visits into court cases feels like an overreach.
A widely shared video captured people’s disbelief that failing to show up after collecting Transport Fare (T-fare) could carry fines of almost half a million naira or even the possibility of jail time.
Public reactions to these developments have been both fervent and varied. Social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, and X (formerly Twitter) have seen these court cases go viral, leading to heated debates about the implications of these rulings.
Legal advocates argue that they communicate a necessary stance against what some have termed “T-fare scams.”
This refers to incidents where individuals solicit transport money with no real intention of following through on an engagement.
Conversely, a considerable portion of social media users have voiced outrage at the seemingly harsh penalties meted out.
Critics have deemed the fines excessive, with comments like, “ If you don’t want to scam him why did you send account details to him or how did he get ur account details,” by Amos Mukadang Isah on Facebook, highlighting concerns regarding the financial burden these cases could impose.
Also a comment by Ogbonna Michael Chinaamekpere, he said “You go explain tire, lesson to other girls”.
The influence of these courtroom decisions will resonate in future interactions, signalling an urgent need for thoughtful engagement and understanding in our increasingly interconnected lives.
But beyond the arguments, the message from the courts is loud and clear: this is no longer a joke. What used to be seen as harmless “runs” is now being treated as fraud.
The fact that simple chats, transfers, and promises exchanged on social media are being upheld as evidence in court shows how far things have changed.
For many young women who once viewed this as an easy hustle, the reality is sinking in. The risk is no longer worth the reward.
Not only is there the shame of being named and shamed in public, but also the real possibility of financial ruin or prison. The trending cases of Jennifer and Rhoda may just be the beginning.
As digital relationships grow and more men summon the courage to seek justice, the legal system appears ready to clamp down hard. What used to be casual “no-shows” is now criminalised. Promises are no longer just words, they can carry legal consequences.
