The Ibadan zonal office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has arraigned one Ezekiel James before Justice Ajoku on two-count charge of conspiracy and obtaining money under pretence.
The offence, according to the Commission, is contrary to Sections 8(a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006 and punishable under Section 1 (3) of the same Act.
The Public Relations Officer, EFCC, Wilson Uwujaren, said on Monday that the 68-year-old defendant fraudulently obtained the sum of N25 million from a victim for a plot of land. When the charge was read to him, the defendant pleaded not guilty.
Ajoku adjourned the case till March 24, for hearing on the defendant’s bail application and April 26, for trial.
The defendant is to be remanded at the Nigerian Correctional Facility, Abolongo, Oyo town pending the hearing and determination of his bail application.
In a related development, a Federal High Court sitting in Ibadan, Oyo State, convicted one Ajibola Hammed on one count amended charge bordering on impersonation, contrary to Section 22(2)(b)(i) of the Cybercrime (Prohibition Prevention, Etc.) Act 2015 and punishable under the Act.
The defendant, in a classic love scam, presented himself as Jessica Mercy, a white woman, to one Juan Angle, an American man with whom he claimed to be deeply in love.
Hammed pleaded guilty to the charge having entered a plea bargain agreement with the EFCC, culminating in the amendment of his charge.
In view of his plea, Justice Patricia Ajoku convicted and sentenced him to three months in prison. The court also ordered him to forfeit one Vivo 1906 phone to the Federal Government.
