Nigeria's anti-corruption agency, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, has arraigned one Nwachi Chidozie Kingsley before a Federal Capital Territory High Court, Maitama, Abuja for an alleged internet fraud.
The suspect was arraigned before Justice U.P. Kekemeke on Monday on two counts bordering on stealing, obtaining by false pretence and criminal possession of fake documents.
A statement issued on Wednesday by EFCC's Head of Media and Publicity, Wilson Uwujaren, said the suspect obtained $370,000 by false pretence through internet fraud.
In a related development, Justice Aisha Kumaliya of the Borno State High Court, has convicted and sentenced one Peter Ennemakwu Agbenyo to one year imprisonment for criminal misappropriation.
Kumaliya jailed Agbenyo while delivering judgment in a suit filed by the Maiduguri Zonal Command of anti-graft agency on Monday.
The court also ordered the convict to pay the sum of N1.8 million to the nominal complainant or, in default, spend an additional two years in prison.
The convict was first arraigned on Thursday, August 11, 2022, over one count.
The charge reads: "That you, Peter Ennemakwu Agbenyo, sometime in March, 2020 in Maiduguri, Borno State within the Jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, dishonestly induced Okwor Nkemakonam Paul to deliver to you the sum of N1,800,000.00 (One Million Eight Hundred Thousand Naira) via your account number 2138971646 domiciled with UBA Plc under the guise that the said amount represent payment for a purchase of Toyota Corolla 2010 which you are yet to deliver and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 320 (a) and Punishable under Section 322 of the Penal Code Cap 102 Laws of Borno State."
The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charge.
In proving its case against the defendant, the EFCC through Mukhtar Ali Ahmed called three witnesses and tendered some documents as evidence.
In another development, one Ibrahim Aisami (aka Ibrahim Mai Kaza) has been arraigned before Justice Kumaliya of the Borno State High Court, Maiduguri on one count of criminal misappropriation.
The count reads: “That you, Ibrahim Aisami (aka Ibrahim Mai kaza) sometime in January 2020 at Maiduguri within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, being entrusted with dominion over certain properties to wit; Mercedes Benz C 200 Saloon with chassis No. 328414 and Reg. No. YLA 344 PK by Sulaiman Mohammed Tijjani for safekeeping while the vehicle particulars were still with him, where you sold the said vehicle without his consent and did misappropriate the entire sum and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 311 of the Penal Code Cap. 102 Laws of Borno State of Nigeria and Punishable under section 312 of the same Law.”
Similarly, one Abdulmumini Ali and Abdullahi Usman were also arraigned before Justice Kumaliya of the Borno State High Court, Maiduguri on two amended counts of obtaining N4,000,000.00 (Four Million Naira) by false pretence.
Count one of the charge reads: “That you, Abdullahi Usman and Shehu Mahadi (now at large) sometimes in 2012 at Maiduguri, within the Jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, with intent to defraud did obtained the sum of N3,000,000.00 (Three Million Naira) from Alhaji Shettima Modu under the pretence that the said amount represent payment for the purchase of a plot of land No. (1) BO/12667/8205-122 located behind Legacy House, (2) plot No. BO/12667 CERT8205 121 and (3) plot No. 121 at 44/G Ward, all situated in Maiduguri, Borno State which you knew to be false and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 1(1) A of the Advance Fee Fraud and other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006 and punishable under section 1(3) of the same Act.”
The defendants pleaded ‘not guilty’ to the charges preferred against them.
Justice Kumaliya ordered the remand of the defendants and adjourned the matters till May 2, 2023 for commencement of trial.