EFCC Arraigns Man for N44m Employment Scam

EFCC Arraigns Man for N44m Employment Scam

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, today, March 16, 2022, arraigned one Anthony Uwa along with his companies: Okmar Consultancy limited and Dermo Impex Nigeria limited, before Justice Z. B. Abubakar of the Federal High Court, Abuja on a four count charge bordering on conspiracy, obtaining by false pretence and employment scam to the tune of N44, 235,700 (Forty-four Million, Two Hundred and Thirty-five Thousand, Seven Hundred Naira).

Uwa was alleged to have, at various times, collected the said sum from fifty two thousand job applicants on the pretext that he will provide employment to them.

One of the counts reads: “That you Anthony Uwa and Dermo Impex Nigeria limited between July 2020 and September 2020, in Abuja within the Jurisdiction of this Honourable Court with intent to defraud, conspired to obtain the sum of N44, 235,700 (Forty-four Million, Two Hundred and Thirty-five Thousand, Seven Hundred Naira), from fifty thousand job applicants under the false pretence that you will provide employment for them, which pretence you knew to be false and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 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 defendant pleaded not guilty to the charges when read to him.

In view of his pleas, prosecuting counsel, Y.Y. Tarfa requested for a trial date and prayed the court to remand the defendant.

But the defence counsel, Charles U. Ikechukwu moved a motion, praying the court to grant his client bail pending the hearing and determination of the case.

Justice Abubakar thereafter granted the defendant bail in the sum of N25 Million and one surety in like sum. The surety must be of good character and have a title document within the jurisdiction of the court. He is also to deposit two recent passports each to the court registrar.

The matter was adjourned till May 24, 2022 for trial.

Court Jails Two Internet Fraudsters 10 Years

Two Internet fraudsters: Enabonkpe Robert and Omorovbiye Best Osemwegie, were on Tuesday, March 15, 2022, jailed by Justice C.A Obiozor and Justice F.A Olubanjo of the Federal High Court sitting in Benin- City, Edo State and Asaba, Delta State respectively.

They were sentenced to five years imprisonment each for internet- related crimes.

Robert (alias Engineer Eric Cheng) was arraigned on one -count charge by the Benin Zonal Command of the EFCC for fraudulent impersonation.

The lone- count charge read: “That you Enabonkpe Robert (alias Engineer Eric Cheng) or about the 16th day of May, 2021 at No. 22 Police Station Road, Agenebode, Edo State, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, fraudulently impersonated one Engineer Eric Cheng, a white man, by sending the following Gmail addresses Robertbliss27@gmail.com rulemaxwell10@gmail.com and unitednationsyrial72@gmail.com and fraudulently represented yourself as a white man from California in United State of America, the representation you knew to be false and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 22(2) (b) (i) and (ii) of the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2015 and punishable under Section 22(2) (b)(iv) of the same Act”.

Upon arraignment, the defendant pleaded guilty to the charge.

In view of his plea, prosecution counsel, Ibrahim Mohammed, prayed the court to convict and sentence the defendant accordingly.

Justice Obiozor convicted and sentenced the defendant to five years imprisonment with an option of fine of N 500,000 ( Five Hundred Thousand Naira only).

In addition, the judge ordered the defendant to forfeit his mobile phone to the Federal Government of Nigeria and undertake in writing to be of good behavior henceforth.

In a similar development, Justice Olubanjo of the Federal High Court sitting in Asaba, Delta State convicted and sentenced Osemwegie to five years imprisonment for fraud.

The one- count charge read : “that you Omorovbiye Best Osemwegie sometime in November 2020 at Benin City, Edo State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court with intent to defraud, sent electronic message which materially misrepresented your identity to Wang Jun, a Chinese woman upon which she relied and suffered financial loss in a sum of $3,000,00 and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 22(2) (b) (ii)of the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2015 and punishable under Section 22(2) (b)(iv) of the same Act.

In view of his plea, prosecution counsel, I.K Agwai prayed the court to convict and sentence the defendant accordingly.

Justice Olubanjo convicted and sentenced the defendant to five years imprisonment with an option of fine of N500,000 (Five Hundred Thousand Naira only).

The judge also ordered the convict to forfeit the balance of money in his bank account, one Mercedes Benz C300 2015 model and a mobile phone to the Federal Government of Nigeria. He is also to undertake in writing to be of good behavior henceforth.

The convicts’ journey to the Correctional Centre started when they were arrested by operatives of the Benin Zonal Command of the EFCC for impersonating foreigners to commit internet- related crimes. Robert impersonated an American while Osemwegie impersonated a Chinese.

Wilson Uwujaren
Head, Media & Publicity
16 March, 2022