The complainant, Albert John Kuba, an American citizen resident in Southern Moravia Town, Czech Republic, alleged that Yemaye fraudulently defrauded him of several thousands of United States of American dollars while threatening to release the recorded romance video of him to the public as well as issues that bordered on remittance of inheritance.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Tuesday, December 13, 2016 arraigned one Elvis Yemaye before Justice Olubunmi Banjoko of the Federal Capital Territory High Court sitting in Apo, Abuja on a 2-count charge bordering on impersonation, forgery and obtaining by false pretence to the tune of $17, 863 (seventeen thousand, eight hundred and sixty three dollars).
The complainant, Albert John Kuba, an American citizen resident in Southern Moravia Town, Czech Republic, alleged that Yemaye fraudulently defrauded him of several thousands of United States of American dollars while threatening to release the recorded romance video of him to the public as well as issues that bordered on remittance of inheritance.
According to the complainant, Yemaye started his blackmail when the victim decided to back out from an earlier business of making him (Kuba) a beneficiary of his inheritance, a business later discovered to be phony.
It was also alleged that the suspect claimed to be one Tommy Rex (Jnr.) the picture of whom he used to lure his victims to sending money to him.
Investigation by the EFCC on the matter revealed that, the suspect falsely presented himself to the victim as Chief Barrister Elvis Yemaye. He also paraded himself as an official of both the EFCC and CBN, using fictitious email addresses and several phone numbers to further lure his victim.
Count one of the charge reads:
"That you, Elvis Yemaye (Alias; Chief Barrister Elvis Yemaye) between June, 2014 and June, 2015 at Abuja within the Abuja Judicial Division of this Honourable Court, with intent to defraud, obtain an aggregate sum of $17,863 (seventeen thousand, eight hundred and sixty three USD) from one John Albert Kuba, an American resident in Czech Republic under the false pretence that the money represents payment for the processing of your inheritance claim while acting in the name: Tommy Rex and which pretence you knew was false and committed an offence contrary to Section 1 (3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and other Related Offences Act, Cap A6, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
Particulars of count two read:
“That you, Elvis Yemaye (Alias; Chief Barrister Elvis Yemaye) between June, 2014 and June, 2015 at Abuja within the Abuja Judicial Division of this Honourable Court did personate a public officer to wit: pretended to be an operative with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and in such assumed character made a representation to one John Albert Kuba, an American resident in Czech Republic that you were investigating a case relating to your inheritance and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 132 of the Penal Code.
The accused person pleaded not guilty to the two counts when they were read him.
In view of his plea, counsel to EFCC, Andrew A. Akoja, asked for a trial date.
However, the defence counsel, A. Attah, prayed the court to admit the accused person to bail, adding that he would not do anything to frustrate his trial.
Justice Banjoko admitted the accused person to bail in the sum of N20million with two sureties in like sum. One of the first sureties must be a civil servant not below salary grade level 14, while the other surety must have a title deed anywhere in Nigeria and must depose to affidavit of means. The sureties must provide tax clearance of three years and must submit their passport photographs to the court.
The case has been adjourned to January 31, 2017 for hearing.
Wilson Uwujaren
Head, Media & Publicity
December 14, 2016