EFCC ARRESTS 27 PERSONS FOR INTERNET FRAUD IN EDO, IMO WHILE ONE STUDENT CHARGED FOR ROMANCE SCAM IN KWARA

The Benin Zonal Office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), onFriday, February 12, 2021 arrested seven persons in Benin City, Edo State for alleged internet fraud.

The suspects who were arrested based on actionable intelligence by the Commission are Agbi Alaba Favour,  Aigbata Wilson, Chukwudi John, Momodu Abdulmalik, William David, Acien Simeon and Otasowie Osariemen.

Items recovered from the suspects include lap top computers, mobile Phones,  a Toyota Camry car and a Mercedes-Benz GLK 350.

In Owerri, Imo State, 20 (Twenty) suspected internet fraudsters were arrested. They were arrested on Friday, February 12, 2021  at New Owerri, Eminike Estate, Norble Abode, Owerri.

The suspects are: Onyebuchi Victor; Isreal Victor;  Emeka Clinton; Stanley Uche;  Onyemachi Stanley; Ikechukwu Agbalieze; Franklin Ugoegbu; Nze Collins; Nwokoro Santus and Agocha Johnson.

Others are: Oscar Anumata; Emeka Clinton Nkeoga; Ogwu Chukwu Akagha Marvis; Victor Obioha; Charles Onymesi;  Awunnaya Victor;  Henry Stephni;  Jerrard Uwaima, Franklin Uzoma and Obidike Abuchi.

Items recovered from them include:  Forty (40) mobile phones, seventeen (17) laptops of different brands and six (6) vehicles:  one (1) blue-coloured Toyota Corolla car;  one (1) black-coloured Acura ZX car; one (1) ash-coloured Lexus GX 460 Sports Utility Vehicle; one (1) green- coloured Venza car, one (1) black-coloured Mercedes Benz car and one (1) ash-coloured Lexus 330 SUV.  Others are  thirteen (13) Powers of Attorney, five (5) architectural documents and a folder containing some other documents.

Meanwhile, a student of Kwara State University, KWASU, Malete, Atoyebi Ayodeji Blessing, was on Friday February 12, 2021 arraigned on one count charge bordering on romance scam and related imternet fraud before Justice Mahmood Abdulgafar of the Kwara State High Court sitting in Ilorin.

Atoyebi, 20, currently studying Agricultural and Biological Engineering in the University while masquerading as a white female (Sophia Bambi), allegedly opened a gmail account which he used in defrauding unsuspecting victims under the guise of being in love with them before the law caught up with him.

The offence contravenes Section 6 and punishable under Section 8 and 1 (3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006.

The charge reads: “That you, Atoyebi Ayodeji Blessing (alias Sophia Bambi), sometime in January,  2021 or thereabout at Ilorin, Kwara State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court knowingly had in your possession some documents, in form of email chats, containing false pretence where you represented yourself to be one Sophia Bambi, a white female with gmail account: sophiabambi8@gmail.com who wanted to have paid sex with one Dalton Gilmore as it is contained in your gmail account: sophiabambi8@gmail.com and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 6 and punishable under Section 8 and 1 (3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006.” 

The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charge.

Following his plea, counsel to the EFCC, A. A. Adebayo urged the court to fix a date for trial and order the remand of the defendant in Nigerian Correctional Service Facility, Ilorin.

However, Atoyebi’s counsel, Osinachi Oddom, argued that the offence upon which the defendant was brought to court is bailable, and prayed that he be admitted to bail.

Justice Abdulgafar in a bench ruling granted bail to the defendant in the sum of N1million with two sureties who must be his blood relation.