The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has arraigned one Margaret Sylvester, her son Lucky Ebhogie and two others suspects before Justice Hannatu A.L Balogun of Kaduna State High Court, Kaduna for internet fraud related offences.
The suspects were arraigned in Court on Friday August 20, 2021 on separate one count charges each for offences ranging from impersonation to obtaining money by false pretences.
One of the suspects, Isreal Justin was said to have in July this year fraudulently and falsely presented himself as James Thompson (an American Military Personnel) serving in Ohio, United States of America to one Angie Barfrag with intent to defraud her.
“An offence punishable under Section 1 (3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006.”
The second suspect Lucky Ebhogie was said to have fraudulently obtained a total sum of $ 7,500 USD ( Seven Thousand Five Hundred USD) only from one Nancy, an American citizen, when he presented yourself to her as James Chinn (an American Military Personnel) deployed to Afghanistan .
“An offence punishable under Section 1 (3) of Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006.”
While her mother Margaret Sylvester was alleged to have conducted a financial transaction with the said unlawful money and purchased a vehicle “Mercedes Benz GLK 350, 2013 Model, Chassis No. WDCGG5HM1EG190011” at the cost of N 7,000,000 (Seven Million Naira only), for and behalf of one Lucky Ebhojie, from the proceeds of a specified unlawful activity for the purpose of disguising the source of the money
An offence contrary to Section 7 (1) (b) and punishable under Section 7 (2) of Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006.”
On his part, Richman Kas Godwin was alleged to have fraudulently obtained the sum of $ 1,200 USD ( One Thousand Two Hundred USD only) from one Nancy ( an American citizen ) when he falsely presented himself to her as West Brown ( an American military personnel) deployed to Afghanistan,
An offence contrary to Section 1(1) (b) and punishable under Section 1 (3) of Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006.”
The defendants all pleaded ‘not guilty’ to their respective charges.
Following their pleas and an applications for their bail, Justice Balogun ordered the defendants to be remanded in a Correctional Centre and adjourned the matter till August 26, 2021 for ruling on the bail applications.