The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Port Harcourt’s Zonal Office, on Thursday, August 8, 2019 arraigned Nwanedi Ihejiato Chukwuma Godwin before Justice A.T Mohammed of the Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State on four- count charges bordering on obtaining by false pretence and impersonation contrary to Section 22(2) (b) (ii) of the Cybercrime (Prohibition Prevention e.t.c.) Act 2015 and punishable under Section 22(2) (b) (IV) of the same Act.
One of the charges read: “That you Nwanedi Ihejiato Chukwuma Godwin (Alias Wilson Adonis) on or about June 2019 and July 2019 in Port Harcourt, Rivers State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did obtain the sum of $500.00 (Five Hundred Dollars) from one Mary Vawter when you presented yourself as Wilson Adonis a white man which pretext you knew to be false and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1(1)(b) of the Advanced 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 four- count charges when read to him.
In view of his plea, prosecution counsel, K.W. Chukwuma-Eneh prayed the court to fix a date for the commencement of trial. However, counsel to the defendant, E.B Meabe prayed for a short date to file a bail application for the defendant.
Justice Mohammed ordered that the defendant be remanded in prison custody and sent the case-file to the Administrative Judge for re- assignment.
Godwin ran into trouble when operatives of the EFCC, Port Harcourt’s Zonal Office arrested him at Perryton Hotel, Osubi, Delta State sometimes in July 2019. His arrest followed intelligence linking him with fraudulent online activities.
Investigations showed that he impersonated one Wilson Adonis, an American through his g-mail account to obtain money from unsuspecting ladies. Godwin, through his chat with another foreigner, Mary Vawter, defrauded her to the sum of Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00).