The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission today docked one Christian
Efe Oyovweyho alias Femi Adesina before Justice Z.B Abubakar of the
Federal High Court Kano on a two count charge of Obtaining by False
Pretence.
The defendant allegedly impersonated the Special
Adviser on Media and Publicity to President Muhammad Buhari, Femi
Adesina and attempted to obtain N300,000 from a professor of Economics
at Bayero University Kano, Dalhatu Mohammed Galadanci.
According
to the complainant, sometime in July 2016, the defendant sent him a text
message
claiming to be Femi Adesina, S.A to the president on Media and
Publicity.
The defendant fraudulently claimed to be speaking on
behalf of the president and that the name of the professor has been
forwarded for appointment in the presidency.
The complainant
further stated that the defendant claimed to be searching for a better
office for him. Subsequently, the defendant asked the professor to make
payment of the sum of N300,000 (Three Hundred Thousand Naira Only) to
facilitate his appointment to Nigeria Port Authority or Nigerian Railway
Cooperation and Rural Electrification.
At that point, the professor got suspicious and reported the matter to the commission.
One
of the counts read that “ You Christian Efe Oyovweyho alias Femi
Adesina and another (now at large) on or about 16th day of July, 2016 at
Kano, within the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court Kano with
intent to defraud attempted to obtain the sum of N300,000 (Three Hundred
Thousand Naira Only) from Professor Dalhatu Mohammed Galadanci through
your Zenith Bank Account with Account number: 2173729401, under the
false pretence that the money was meant for a juicy appointment in Abuja
, which pretence you knew to be false and thereby committed an offense
contrary to section 8 (b) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud
Related Offences Act, 2006 and punishable under section 1 (3) of the
same Act.
After listening to the charge, the defendant pleaded not guilty.
Prosecution counsel Musa Isah requested a date for trial in view of the plea of defendant.
Counsel
representing the defendant, T.M Oyedema however brought a motion for
bail, praying the court to admit his client to bail pending the hearing
and determination of the case.
Justice Zainab granted the defendant bail in the sum of N500,000 and two sureties in like sum.
One of the sureties must be a State or Federal government official not below grade level 8.
The
other surety must be a respected member of the society with a landed
property within the jurisdiction. Also certificate of Occupancy in
respect of the landed property shall be deposited with the Deputy Chief
Registrar of the court.
The case has been adjourned till 11
April, 2017 for commencement of trial, while the defendant remains in
prison custody pending the perfection of his bail conditions.
Source: Metronaija.com
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