Internet Fraud: EFCC Arraigns Two Benue Poly Undergraduates For N250K

The duo of James Ogwuche Alex and Oklewu Ene Gina was arraigned on June 7 by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) before Justice B.O Quadri of the Federal High Court,Port Harcourt, Rivers State on a 2-count charge of conspiracy and obtaining by false pretence to the tune of Two Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira only (N250,000).

The petitioner, Professor Ndubuisi Eke alleged that the suspects who are both students of Benue State Polytechnic hoodwinked him through an e-mail from a purported old friend by name Engineer Bartholomew requesting him to pay Two hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira (N250,000).to an ccount number which he did.

One of the courts reads, ‘that you, James Ogwuche Alex, Oklewu Ene Gina and Okay Duru (now at large) sometimes in April 2015 at Port Harcourt, Rivers State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable court did conspire among yourselves to commit felony to wit: Obtaining money by false pretence and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 8 (a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act 2006 and punishable under section 1 (3) of these same Act.

Count two reads that you James Ogwuche Alex, Oklewu Ene Gina and Okay Duru (now at large) on or about the 17th day of April 2015 at Port Harcourt, Rivers State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable court with intent to defraud, did obtain the sum of Two Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira only (N250, 000) from one Professor Ndubuisi Eke of Sophia Clinic under the false pretence that you are Engineer Bartholomew Igwe, a pretext 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.

They pleaded not guilty when the charges were read to them.

In view of their plea, the prosecution counsel, Rasheeda Alao asked the court for a date for hearing. But the defense counsel, Jane Ogwali prayed the court to grant her clients’ bail.

Justice B.O Quadri granted the accused persons bail in the sum of Five Hundred Thousand Naira (N500,000) and two sureties. Sureties must be resident within Port Harcourt and their addresses are to be verified by a the EFCC and a senior bailiff. The surety is also to depose to an affidavit of means.

Justice Quadri adjourned the case to October 4, 2016 for hearing and ordered the defendants to be remanded in prison custody pending the perfection of their bail. [EFCC]