…Arraign man for alleged N72.6m, £31,200 visa scam in Lagos
Operatives of the Port Harcourt Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), have has arrested 11 suspects over alleged currency racketeering and internet fraud in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital.
The suspects were arrested around Apara Street, New GRA, Port Harcourt on Tuesday.
Head, Media and Publicity, EFCC, Dele Oyewale said the arrest was made based on credible intelligence on the suspects’ involvement in naira abuse and internet fraud.
The suspects are: Rafael Obi, John Daniel, Dominion Sambo, Solomon Nwoke, Solomon Daniel, Stanley Uche, Micheal Markson, Chima Fred Onwra, Arinze Damian, Vizor Richard and Chidera Orji.
Items recovered from the suspects’ include, cash of N1,485,000.00, five luxury vehicles smartphones and several incriminating documents.
Oyewale said the suspects would be charged to court as soon as investigations concluded.
Similarly, the Lagos Zonal Directorate of the EFCC, on Tuesday, arraigned one Heart Chidozie Obum on a five-count charge bordering on obtaining money by false pretence and stealing to the tune of N72,689,000 and £31,200.
The suspects was charged before Justice Rahman Oshodi of the Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos.
Obum allegedly promised to help the petitioner get a certificate of sponsorship to travel abroad.
He, however, allegedly reneged on his promise after collecting money from the petitioner.
One of the counts reads: “That you, Heart Chidozie Obum, sometime in 2023, and in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, by false pretence, and with intent to defraud, obtained the sum of £31,200 from Peace Asonye Udochukwu as payment for certificate of sponsorship.”
Another charges reads: “That you, Heart Chidozie Obum, sometime in 2023, and in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, dishonestly took the sum of N72,689,000 (Seventy-Two Million, Six Hundred and Eighty Nine Naira) from Peace Asonye udochukwu as payment of certificate of sponsorship.”
He pleaded “not guilty” to the charge preferred against him.
In view of his plea, the prosecution counsel, T.J.Banjo, prayed the court for an adjournment to enable the prosecution prove its case against the defendant.
He also urged the court to remand the defendant at a Correctional facility pending his trial date.
The defence counsel, O. Oluwashewu, however, informed the court of a pending application for bail for his client.
Consequently Justice Oshodi adjourned till December 3, 2024, for hearing of the bail application and also February 19 and 20, 2025 for trial.
The Judge ordered the custodial remand of the defendant pending his trial date.