The State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department (SCIID) of the Lagos State Police Command in Panti, Yaba, yesterday arraigned Olajide Oluwaseun Karrem, popularly known as Seun Egbegbe, before a Federal High Court in Lagos on 36 counts charge of fraudulent activities. The court case portrays Egbegbe and a co-accused, Oyekan Ayomide, as serial fraudsters.
The charge sheet, filed before the court by Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP) Effiong Asuquo, head of SCIID's legal department, alleges that the two suspected fraudsters defrauded numerous bureaux de change operators between 2016 and February 2, 2017. The alleged crimes took place at various places in Lagos State and enabled the suspects to steal funds worth N40.647 million, $29,800, and £4,815.
Police prosecutors told the court that the offenses violated sections of the Advance Fee Fraud and other Related Offences Act 2006, punishable under section 1(1) of the same Act.
The bureaux de change defrauded by the accused serial fraudsters included Issa Adamu, Mohammed Sanni, Jubril Ado, Hassan Amodu, Bala Mohammed, Sanni Hassan, Abdullahi Mumuni, Suraju Garuba, Mutairu Shuaibu, Sanusi Muhammad, and Kabiru Jubril. The other reported victims include Barowo Abdullahi, Abubakar Musa, Abdullahi Babatunde, Nasir Musa, Umaru Haruna, Umaru Sanni, Mohammed Bello, Mohammed Alli, Abdulrazaq Sanni, Tairu Musa, Sulaiman Sheu, Amadu Abda and Dauda Ibrahim.
The first count of the arraignment reads, “that you Olajide Oluwaseun Kareem and Oyekan Ayomide, on or about 2nd February, 2017, in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court by false pretense and with intent to defraud conspired among yourselves to obtain the sum of N2.450, 000 million; £3000 Pounds Sterling from one Alhaji Isa Adamu, and therefore committed an offence contrary to Section 8 of the Advance Fee Fraud and other Related Offences, and punishable under the same Act).”
Both accused men pleaded not guilty to all the counts.
After they had entered their plea, the prosecutor, Innocent Anyigor, urged the court to remand them in prison pending commencement of trial. But the defense lawyer, A. O. Gbadamosi, urged the court to set a date to hear his clients’ bail application. He told the court, however, that he was yet to file any bail application.
The presiding judge, Justice Oluremi Oguntoyinbo, ordered that the two accused persons be remanded in prison custody. He then adjourned the case till March 10, for trial.
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