Justice M. Abdulgafar of a Kwara State High Court sitting in Ilorin, has dismissed the bail application of one Chimezie Paul who is being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Ilorin Zonal Office for internet fraud.
Chimezie was among eight suspected internet fraudsters arrested by operatives of the EFCC Ilorin Office on February 11, 2019. He was subsequently charged to court, but his counsel, M.O. Yusuf, moved the application for his bail.
Counsel for the EFCC, Ola Sesan, had however objected to the application for bail, arguing that there was strong evidence against the defendant.
“The defendant is a flight risk and if released on bail, he might not attend the proceedings of the court to answer the criminal charges levelled against him,” he said.
Ruling on the application on April 11, 2019, Justice Abdulgafar held that the defendant “failed to convince the Court on reasons why the request should be granted”.
The judge further held that: “The testimonies of the prosecution witnesses and exhibits tendered so far by the EFCC were very strong and reliable, and the accused person may jump bail if the request is granted.
“The extra judicial statements of the defendant which he made to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission showed that he confessed to the crime levelled against him.”
The presiding judge, thus, dismissed the application and resolved all the issues raised in favour of the prosecution.
Chimezie is facing a six-count charge bordering on advance fee fraud.
One of the counts reads: “That you, Chimezie Paul (alias Gary Jason) on or about the 12th day of February, 2019, in Ilorin within the jurisdiction of this honourable Court, with intend to defraud, had in your possession a fraudulent document titled ‘Google Account’ containing false pretence which you knew to be false and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 6 of the Advance Fee Fraud and other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006 and punishable under section 1 of the same act.”