The
Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC on Monday, 23 January,
2017 arraigned Akintunde Vincent Abiodun before Justice Oluwatoyin Ipaye
of Lagos State High court Ikeja on amended charge bordering on forgery
and obtaining money by false pretence.
The
37-year-old HND holder from Federal Polytechnic Auchi, Edo State, is
said to have defrauded the victim, D. Bonnici of $267,000 (Two Hundred
and Sixty Seven Thousand New Zealand Dollars by claiming to be
Christopher Williams from United Kingdom.
According
to the complainant, she met Akintunde in a dating site on the internet
and allegedly fell in love with him. She said the accused started
collecting money from her after he claimed he was in possession of
gemstone worth $18,050,000 (Eighteen Million and Fifty Thousand United
States Dollars), which he purportedly inherited from his father.
She further said, Akintunde hoodwinked her into believing that he was coming to New Zealand to settle down with her.
She
alleged that the money she sent to the suspect were received in
Malaysia and Nigeria by persons bearing Norisha, Jalan Klan, and
Mohammed Haizam Bin Fauzin. All of them claimed to be friends of
Akintunde.
When the 14 charges were read to the defendant, he pleaded not guilty.
In
view of the plea, the prosecuting counsel, Sesan Ola prayed the court
to remand the defendant in prison custody and also for a trial date to
be given.
Counsel to the defendant, O.P. Daramola however prayed the court to grant the defendant bail.
But
the prosecution opposed the bail application on the grounds that the
defendant had attempted to travel to the United States while on
administrative bail and was similarly denied a Canadian visa
Justice Ipaye consequently dismissed the bail application while ordering the defendant be remanded in Kirikiri prison custody.
The matter was adjourned to 7 and 8 March, 2017 for trial,
Wilson Uwujaren
Head Media & Publicity
23rd January, 2017
No comments:
Post a Comment