Five Suspected Internet Fraudsters Charged

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Monday, May 11, 2015 arraigned Uchenna Nwako, Ejikeme Oluchukwu, Nnamani Ikechukwu, Ibeh kodili Martins and Nwako Victoria Ifeoma before Justice D.V Agishir of the Federal High Court, Enugu, on a 16-count charge bordering on intent to defraud and obtaining N26,338,000 by false pretence.

The five accused persons were picked up by EFCC operatives on February 27, 2013 after intelligence reports indicated that they were involved in fraudulent activities bordering on cybercrime.

Part of the charge read: “That you Uchenna Nwako, Ejikme Oluchukwu, Nnamani Ikechukwu, Ibeh Kodili Martins and Nwako Victoria Ifeoma sometime in November 2012 in Enugu, Enugu State within the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court of Nigeria, conspired among yourselves to commit an unlawful act to wit: obtaining money by false pretence and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 8(a) and punishable under section 1(3) of Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006.

“That you Nwako Victoria Ifeoma and Uchenna Nwako on or about October 18, 2012 in Enugu, Enugu State within the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court of Nigeria, concealed and disguised the origin of the sum of  N8,940,000 which is proceed of an unlawful activity by causing the said money to be paid into the Zenith Bank account number 1013144345 of Ifechina  Enterprises Limited, a private limited company jointly owned by both of you, and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 15(2)(a) and punishable under Section 15(3) of the Money Laundering Act , 2011 (As Amended).”

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

In view of their plea, the EFCC counsel, M. A. Ekwu, requested for a date to be fixed for trial of the accused persons to begin.  

Defence counsel, A. Oyenkwere, however requested bail for his clients, which was opposed by Ekwu.

Ekwu argued that only Ikechukwu who had honoured the terms of the administrative bail deserved bail. Ikechukwu was thereafter granted bail in the sum of N1,000,000 with one surety who must be either a seasoned businessman that owns a landed property with a C of O, or a civil servant of Grade Level 15 or above.

 

The case was adjourned till May 13, 2015 for consideration of the bail application of the other accused persons, who were ordered to be remanded in EFCC custody.