Operatives of the Gombe Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) have arrested six suspected internet fraudsters.
According to the Nigerian law enforcement agency, the six (6) suspects are Okeychuku Ani, Rousham Danjuma, Iloabuchi Sideofor, Emmanuel Adibeh, Onyedikachi Iwanze and Elijah Simon.
EFCC disclosed that they were arrested on Saturday, September 16, 2023, in their hideout at Old Government Reservation Area, GRA, Bauchi, Bauchi State.
The anti-corruption agency also revealed that “their arrest was based on actionable intelligence on their suspected involvement in internet-related offences,” adding that “they will be charged to court as soon as investigations are concluded.”
In a related development, the Kaduna Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) arraigned one Opara Uche Victor in Kaduna.
Victor was charged before Justice Joyce Asaba of the Kaduna State High Court sitting in Kaduna on a one-count charge bordering on cybercrime.
According to the anti-corruption agency, the charge reads: “That you, Opara Victor ( aka Clara Hides ) sometime in October 2023 in Kaduna within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, committed an offence to wit; falsely presented yourself as Clara Hides from South Africa to several unsuspecting victims via chat ( an online social media application) in a bid to lure them into love scam, which pretense you knew to be false and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 142 (1) of the Kaduna State Penal Code Law, 2017”.
EFCC made it known that; “He pleaded not guilty when the charge was read to him prompting the prosecution counsel, M.U Gadaka to urge the court to fix a date for commencement of trial. The defence counsel, F.D. Kozah however prayed the court to admit his client to bail.”
The agency also disclosed that “Justice Asabe granted the defendant bail in the sum of N500,000 (Five Hundred Thousand Naira) with 3 sureties in like sum. The sureties must be residents within the jurisdiction of the court and possess landed properties with Certificate of Occupancy. They are also to depose an affidavit of means and provide evidence of tax payment.”
EFCC further stated that: “The defendant’s troubles began when a team of operatives arrested him in a sting operation in Barakkallahu, along Kaduna- Zaria Road. He was found to have created a fake Facebook account with the names, Clara Hides and Dr. Edoche, and used the same to defraud unsuspecting victims of their hard-earned money.”
Elsewhere, the Gombe Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission arraigned Adamu Mohammad Dila and Aminu Sani on Monday, September 18, 2023.
Mohammad and Sani were charged before Justice A. Muhammad of Gombe State High Court in Gombe on three -count charges bordering on criminal misappropriation and cheating to the some of N10,560,000.00 (Ten Million Five Hundred and Sixty Thousand Naira).
As stated by EFCC, one of the charges read: “That you, Adamu Dila and Aminu Sani sometime in February at Gombe, Gombe State, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court dishonestly converted to your personal use goods (flour powder) worth the sum of N10,560,000.00 (Ten Million Five Hundred and Sixty Thousand Naira) belonging to one Aliyu Abdullahi Aliyu and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 308 and punishable under Section 309 of the Penal Code Law”.
EFCC also maintained that “the defendant pleaded not guilty to the three-count charges filed against him.”
However, following his plea, prosecution counsel, H. Damina, prayed the court for a trial date to enable him to assemble his witnesses and “also prayed the court for an order remanding the defendant at a Custodial facility.”
Justice Muhammad subsequently remanded the defendant at the Medium Security Custodial Center in Gombe and he also adjourned the matter till October 16, 2023 for trial.
