The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Port Harcourt’s zonal office, on Friday, 14 December, 2018, arraigned one Gift Njekwe Onyinechi (a.k.a) Mario Amando before Justice H. I. O. Oshoma of the Federal High Court, sitting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State on 11-count charges bordering on internet fraud and obtaining money by false pretences to the tune of $4,607.88 (Four Thousand Six Hundred and Seven Dollars, Eighty Eight Cent).
Onyinechi was arrested at Rumuagholu, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, sometimes in 2016, by operatives of the EFCC, following intelligence report on his alleged involvement in internet-related scam. Phones and other fraudulent documents were recovered from him at the point of arrest.
Count one of the charge read: โโThat you, Gift Njekwe Onyinechi (a.k.a) Mario Amando, on or about the 4th day of October, 2015 at Port Harcourt, Rivers State within the jurisdiction of this honorable court with intent to defraud did obtain the sum of $209.99 (USD) through moneygram from one Mario Felix Martinex, under the pretence that the said sum is an advance fees for processing tax clearance for their monies been held in CBN, which you purported to have the capacity to secure for them, a pretext you knew to be false and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1 (1) (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 they were read to him.
In view of his pleas, the prosecution counsel, F. O Dibang asked the court to fix a date for the commencement of trial and that the defendant be remanded in prison custody.
However, counsel to the defendant, Alex Igwe, told the court that he had filed a bail application for his client at the court’s registry and served same to the prosecution. He urged the court to grant his prayers.
Justice Oshoma adjourned the case to 17 December, 2018 for bail hearing and 4, 5, 6 Mach, 2019 for trial. He ordered the defendant to be remanded in prison custody pending the determination of his bail.
