An Ikeja High Court, in Lagos, on Wednesday remanded a 24-year-old man, Kabiru Okedeji, in prison custody for allegedly defrauding three American women of $5,540 through an Internet love scam. Justice Lateef Lawal-Akapo remanded Okedeji at the Kirikiri Maximum Prisons, after his arraignment by the Economic and Financial Crimes
Commission (EFCC). The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Okedeji is to remain in prison pending the hearing and determination of his bail application,
fixed for July 16. The defendant is facing an 11-count charge of obtaining money by false pretences, possession of false documents.
The EFCC counsel, Mr. Babatunde Shonaike, alleged that the defendant committed the offence between December 2013 and January 2014 in Lagos.
Shonaike alleged that Okedeji had claimed to be an American with the name of Jack Copper, to defraud the trio of Jozzet Helle, Debra Williams and Manual Silberge.
He said that the defendant obtained various sums of money totaling $5,540 (about N886,400) from the women, to purportedly arrange his wedding to them.
The prosecutor said Okedeji had in his possession, documents containing false pretences, which he used to facilitate the scams. Shonaike also accused him of forging a Driver’s License with No: BDG70992AA4 in the name of Emeka Johnson, which he tendered to Ecobank Plc as genuine.
According to him, Okedeji’s alleged offences contravene Sections 1(2) and 6 of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act of 2006.
He said it also contravened Section 468 of the Criminal Code Laws of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2003. NAN reports that the offence of obtaining money by false pretences is
punishable by three years imprisonment upon conviction. Okedeji, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge. (NAN)
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