EFCC arraigns businessman for N84m fraud in Abuja
EFCC arraigns businessman for N84m fraud in Abuja
… Arrests son, mother, others for internet fraud in Kaduna
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission( EFCC) today August 11, 2021 arraigned Sani Shehu Abdullahi and his company, First Class General Business and Investment Limited alongside Abubakar Mohammed (now at large) before Justice Sylvanus Chinedu Oriji of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Maitama, Abuja on eight count charges bordering on obtaining by false pretence to the tune of Eighty-four Million, Nine Hundred and Eighty-four Thousand Naira (N84, 984,000).
The defendants, sometime in February, 2020 in Abuja, conspired and defrauded Molten Oil and Gas Nigeria limited through a phony contract financing agreement to supply two trucks of 40,000 litres of diesel each, to Ilorin and Kano Airports for the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria, (FAAN). After the products were supplied the defendants raised a cheque In favour of Molten Oil and Gas Nigeria Limited which was returned unpaid due to insufficient funds in the account.
One of the charges read; “that you Sani Shehu Abdullahi being a Managing Director of First Class General Business & Investment Limited, First Class General Business & Investment Ltd, and Abubakar Mohammed (still at large) sometime in March, 2021, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court with the knowledge that there was insufficient funds in the account of First Class General Business and Investment Ltd with Zenith Bank Plc issued to Molten Oil and Gas Nigeria Ltd, cheque No. 58336919 dated 9th March, 2020 for the sum of Thirty Four Million, Eight Hundred and Twenty Four Thousand Naira (N34,824,000) which said cheque when presented for payment within (3) three months of issue was dishonoured due to insufficient funds standing to the credit of the account to cover the face value of the cheque and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 1(1) (a) of the Dishonoured Cheque (Offences) Act Cap 102 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria and Punishable under Section 1 (1) (b ) (i) (ii) of the same Act, 2007”.
Abdullahi pleaded not guilty to the charges when they were read to him.
In view of his plea, the prosecution counsel, Olanrewaju Adeola, asked the court for a date and requested that the defendant be remanded at a Correctional Centre.
However, counsel to the defendants, Ohene Chris applied for the defendant to continue enjoying the administrative bail earlier granted to him by the EFCC. But the prosecution counsel opposed the application, urging the judge to remand him in prison.
Justice Oriji, a vocational judge, remanded the defendant at Kuje Custodial Centre, even as he indicated that he will forward the case file to the Chief Judge of the FCT High Court for reassignment.
However, he further ruled that the defendant can file his bail application to him or any other vocation judge, pending reassignment of the case.
… Arrests son, mother, others for internet fraud in Kaduna
The Kaduna Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission(EFCC) has arrested the quartet of Lucky Ebhogie, Richman Kas Godwin, Israel Justin and Precious Iwuji for internet-related fraud.
They were arrested on August 5, 2021 in the Sabo area of Kaduna, Kaduna State following intelligence on their alleged involvement in internet-related fraud activities.
Preliminary investigation revealed that the suspects are mostly involved in impersonation and romance scam; faking the identities of US military personnel on foreign missions to deceive their victims.
One of the suspects, Lucky Ebhogie allegedly recruited his mother into the scam by using her account to launder suspected proceeds of crime. On July, 30, 2021, he purchased a Mercedes Benz GLK car for N7 million through the mother’s bank account.
Another suspect, Precious Iwuji was discovered to have sold her photographs and Facebook account to internet fraudsters, which they used to ensnare their victims.
The suspects will soon be charged to court.
