The Enugu Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC on Wednesday, February 12, 2025 arraigned 16 suspected internet fraudsters before Justice Mohammed Garba Umar of the Federal High Court, sitting in Independence Layout, Enugu for fraud.
The defendants are: Chidera Nehemiah, Chikamso Nwabuisi, Nnamekwe Jeremiah Chukwu, Chiemerie Christian Nworie, Azubuike Akachukwu, Onah Chisom Promise, Onoja Anthony Enemari, Uboegbu Chisom Emmanuel and Ediekemi Patrick Udokaebe.
Others are: David Ugaji Izuhukwu, Asomugha Favour Chibuike, Onuoha Marvelous Onyeani, Chidera Godwin, Modozie Chukwudalu Sixtus, Ugwu Chibuzor Pedro and Obiora Favour Ebube.
While Chukwu, Akachukwu, Promise, Udokaebe, Chibuike, Godwin and Sixtus were arraigned on separate two-count charges, the rest of the defendants were arraigned on separate three-count charges, all bordering on fraudulent personation, obtaining by false pretence, money laundering and possession of fraudulent documents.
Count three against Nwabuisi reads: “That you, Chikamso Nwabuisi, sometime in January, 2025 in Awka, Anambra State, within the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court of Nigeria, did commit a felony to wit: using and taking possession of the sum of Five Thousand US Dollars ($5,000.00), knowing same to be fund that forms part of proceeds of an unlawful act and thereby committed an offence, contrary to Section 18 (2) (d) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2022, as amended and punishable under Section 18 (3) of the same Act.”
Court three against Chukwu reads: “That you, Nnaemeka Jeremiah Chukwu sometime in January 2025, at Awka, Anambra State, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court committed a felony to wit: using and taking possession of the sum of $5000.00, equivalent of N7,679,600 (Seven Million, Six Hundred and Seventy-nine Thousand, Six Hundred Naira) knowing same to be funds that form parts of the proceeds of an unlawful act and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 18 (2) (D) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022 and punishable under Section 18 (3) of the same Act”.
They all pleaded “not guilty” when the charges were separately read to them. In view of their plea, prosecution counsel, Michael Ikechukwu Ani, prayed the court for a trial date and for the defendants to be remanded in Enugu State Correctional Centre, while defense counsel, Wisdom Ogbonna, E. J. Nwatarali, B. C. Okeke, O. E. Otakagu, D. O. Onyeji, M. I. Odo and Segun Oyesanya informed the court of pending bail applications of the defendants before the court.
Prosecution counsel opposed the bail applications on the ground that they were not due for hearing having been informed at a very short notice and needed time to file counter-affidavits.
After listening to both sides, Justice Umar adjourned the matter involving Nehemiah, Nwabuisi, Chukwu, Nworie and Onyeamari till February 14, 2025 for the hearing of their bail applications, while those of Akachukwu, Promise, Emmanuel, Udoakebe, Izuchukwu, Sixtus and Ebube were adjourned till February 21, 2025 for hearing of the bail applications.
The rest were adjourned till March 7, 2025 for the same purpose. He ordered that the defendants be remanded in the Enugu State Correctional Centre.
The defendants were among 37 suspected internet fraudsters arrested on Friday, January 17, 2025 in a sting operation at Dr. J. O. Ukwutinife Close, Commissioners Quarters, Ifite, Awka, Anambra State, following actionable intelligence linking them to internet criminal activities.
Investigations revealed that the suspected fraudsters are specialized in forging documents, impersonating foreign nationals and using fake social media accounts to defraud unsuspecting victims.
