BEVERLY HILLS, February 13, (THEWILL) -The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Thursday, arraigned Anthony Ezechukwu, a 34 year-old graduate of International Relations and Management before Justice E.S Chukwu of the Federal High Court, Abuja on a 4-count charge bordering on fraud and impersonation.
The EFCC in a release said, Ezechukwu, an alleged internet fraudster, specializes in cloning facebook accounts of high profile persons with the intention of defrauding unsuspecting members of the public. Among those he allegedly cloned their accounts are Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Minister of Finance, Dame Abimbola Fashola, wife of the Lagos State governor, Hajia Aisha Bala Mohammed, wife of Senator Bala Mohammed, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT and Jamilah Tangaza, executive director, Abuja Geographical Information System.
Count two of the charge reads: “that you, Anthony Ezechukwu on or about 28th day of November, 2013 at Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, with intent to defraud, opened a false online facebook account to wit: url:https:/ / www.facebook.com/agis.jamilahtangaza.9 in the name of one Jamilah Tangaza, the Executive Director, Abuja Geographical Information System, containing false pretence purporting that you have been appointed by the FCT Minister, Senator Bala Mohammed to take control of all lands and houses sale in the FCT and attempted to obtain money from the general public, thereby committing an offence contrary to section 8(b) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act, 2006 and punishable under section 1(3) of the same Act.”
The accused pleaded not guilty when the charge was read to him. Upon his plea, counsel to EFCC Abdallah Faruk prayed the court to fix a date for trial.
Justice Chukwu adjourned the case to February 27, 2014 while ordering that the accused person be remanded in prison custody.
EFCC Arraigns Businesswoman for N9.4m Dud Cheque
Also, the EFCC said Thursday it arraigned one Ngozi Ibeka before Justice Valentine Ashi of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Wuse, Abuja on a 14-count charge bordering on fraud and breach of trust.
Ibeka, Managing Director of Em-Lette Nigeria Limited is alleged to have received several supplies of rice from Stallion Nigeria Limited and issued 14 different cheques in payment. The cheques were dishonoured by the bank due to insufficient funds in her account.
Count one of the charge reads, “That you Mrs. Ngozi Ibeka while being the Managing Director of Em-Lette Nigeria Limited, sometime in 2013 in Abuja within the Abuja Judicial Division of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory with intent to defraud, did issue a Zenith Bank Cheque No. 52088431 dated 21 February, 2013, in the sum of Five Million Four Hundred and Ninety Thousand Naira (N5, 490.000) to one Popular Foods Limited to obtain credit which when presented within three months was dishonoured on the ground of insufficient funds standing to your credit and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1(1) of the Dishonoured Cheque (Offences ) Act cap D11 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004 and punishable under section 1(1) of the same Act”.
The accused pleaded not guilty when the charge was read to her.
Justice Ashi adjourned the case to Friday, February 14, 2014 for hearing of the bail application.
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