The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has arraigned Abdulhamid Isah before a Lagos State High Court in Ikeja over allegations of fraud amounting to $63,599.
Isah was charged with three counts of obtaining money by false pretences, stealing, and retaining proceeds of criminal conduct.
During the hearing, Isah pleaded not guilty to all counts.
The prosecutor, Mr Nwandu Ukoha, informed the court that Isah had obtained $63,590 by false pretences in October 2022. The money was given to Isah to exchange for the naira equivalent, but he failed to do so. Isah was also accused of stealing the money belonging to one Chinedu Ugokwe and retaining the said amount, suspected to be proceeds of criminal conduct.
The offences contravened Sections 1 (1)(2) and (3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act No. 14 of 2006, Section 278 (1) (b), (2) (1) and 285 (1) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State No. 11 of 2011, and Section 17 of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (Establishment) Act 2004.
The prosecutor urged the court to remand the defendant in custody pending the commencement of trial and left the defence counsel’s bail application to the court’s discretion.
Also Read: EFCC Arraigns a Suspected Scammer Sunday Simon for Allegedly Defrauding an American
The defence counsel, Mr Emmanuel Ogbeche, moved a bail application, requesting that the defendant be remanded in EFCC custody.
Justice Ismail Ijelu approved the bail application on the condition of N5 million bail sums to be paid, with two sureties in like sum, one of whom must be related by blood and reside in Lagos State.
The sureties must present evidence of a reliable source of livelihood, and the defendant must be produced at every trial date.
The judge then ordered the defendant’s remand in the Ikoyi Correctional Center, pending the perfection of bail.
The matter was adjourned until February 1, 2024, for trial.
