The Ibadan Zonal office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC has arraigned two suspected internet fraudsters – Alaga Sherif Ayomide and Igberase Hope Odianosen (aka Agent Bill Willson) – before Hon. Justice S. M. Abubakar of the Federal High Court 1, sitting in Abeokuta, Ogun State.
Alaga was arraigned on a four-count charge bordering on obtaining by false pretense, impersonation and possession of false documents, while Odianosen is standing trial on a three-count charge that border on obtaining money by false pretense.
One of the charges preferred against Alaga reads: “That you Alaga Sherif Ayomide ‘M’, on or about the 28th day of January at Ago Iwoye, Ogun State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable court with intent to defraud did obtain an Iphone XS MAX from one David Parker under the pretext that you are Teresa William from Alabama, the pretext you knew to be false and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 1 (1) (b) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006 and punishable under Section 1(3) of the same Act”.
He pleaded not guilty to all the charges.
EFCC’s counsel, Abdulrasheed Suleman, applied for a trial date and an order to remand the defendant in prison custody.
He also opposed the bail application orally made by the defense counsel, Mr. O. A. Adejare, arguing that it was not formally filed before the court.
The judge, however, granted the defendant bail in the sum of Five Million Naira and two sureties in like sum. The sureties, he said, shall be Civil Servants not below grade level 10.
The case was adjourned to April 4, 2019 for trial. Meanwhile, the defendant is to be remanded in prison custody pending the perfection of his bail application.
For Odianosen, the bail condition was to the tune of N2 million with two sureties in like sum.
The verdict followed the bail application filed and argued by his lawyer, Chief O.A. Bamidele, after the accused pleaded not guilty to the charge against him.
The two sureties, the judge held, must be resident within Abeokuta, and one of them must not be below Grade Level 10 in the civil service.
The case was adjourned to April 2, 2019 as the court ordered that the suspect be remanded in prison till he fulfils the bail conditions.