Court Arraigns Man for Alleged $30,000 Internet Fraud

The Port Harcourt Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Wednesday, March 15, 2023 arraigned one Atadu Hope Iluoghene before Justice P .I. Ajoku of the Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State on a 13-counts charge bordering on conspiracy, impersonation, possession of fraudulent documents, obtaining by false pretense and money laundering.

Atadu was arrested during a sting operation by operatives of the Commission in Asaba, Delta State sometime in February 2022. The defendant operated fake social media accounts used in defrauding unsuspecting victims. He allegedly convinced one Nunu into believing he was a Physician from Yemen and defrauded him of the sum of USD 30,000.

The defendant pleaded “not guilty” to the charges.

Given the plea by the defendant, prosecution counsel, Dr. B. Ubi prayed to the court to fix a date for the commencement of trial and the remand of the defendant.

Counsel to the defendant, M. M. Suleiman informed the court of his application for bail of the defendant. He also urged the court to grant the defendant bail to enable him to prepare for his trial.

Justice Ajoku granted the defendant bail in the sum of Three Million (N3,000,000.00) and two sureties in like sum. The sureties must be civil servants in the Service of Rivers State of not less than Grade Level 12.

One of the sureties must have a landed property within the jurisdiction of the court with a Certificate of Occupancy. Both sureties must also deposit two recent passport photographs with the court.

The Judge adjourned the matter till June 21, 2023, for the commencement of trial.