The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission,
EFCC, on Tuesday, November 29, 2016 secured the conviction of a notorious
fraudster, Abiodun Edward, a member of a syndicate which specializes in impersonating
staff of the agency, to defraud unsuspecting victims.
Edward was arraigned on Wednesday, October 14,
2015 and prosecuted on a 3-count charge of impersonation and obtaining by false
pretence to the tune of N10million before Justice Beatrice Iliya of the State
High Court, Gombe.
The convict and his accomplices, Murtala Bello
and Esther Momoh, who are still at large, had allegedly claimed to be staff of
EFCC Abuja Office, in order to defraud one Umar Bello.
The complainant alleged that Bello had, on March
13, 2015 phoned him, assuring him that the convict could “kill” a petition
purportedly written against him, if he could part with a sum of N10million.
Consequently, Bello was said to have sent the
phone number of Momoh who claimed to be a principal detective superintendent,
PDS, with EFCC to the victim for further discussion on how the money could be
paid to them.
The complainant later alleged that after
negotiation, the convict agreed to collect N300,000.00 (three hundred thousand
naira) from him when he could not raise the initial N10million.
He further said one ‘Laolu Adegbite’ who claimed
to be the officer handling his purported case, sent an SMS to him to appear
before the Commission on March 23, 2015.
According to him, owing to the persistent threat
by the convict, he paid the sum of N50,000.00 (fifty thousand naira) into the
convict’s Diamond Bank account number, 0044213102, which was sent to him by
Momoh on March 25, 2015.
Worried by the persistent threat by the convict
over the balance of N250, 000.00 (two hundred and fifty thousand naira), the
victim petitioned EFCC, which led to convict’s arrest and subsequent
prosecution.
Justice Iliya found Edward guilty of two counts
and sentenced him to seven years imprisonment on each of the count without
option of fine.
The sentences are to run concurrently from the
date of the convict’s arraignment.
Justice Iliya also ordered the convict to pay
N50, 000.00 (fifty thousand naira) as restitution to the victim.
Wilson Uwujaren
Head Media & Publicity
30th November, 2016
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