The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Ibadan Zonal Office, on Monday, March 18, 2019, arraigned one suspected Soyombo Omogbolahan, Ridwan (aka Andrea Norde), before Justice Ibrahim Watilat, of the Federal High Court 2, Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital for allegedly defrauding two American citizens of $150,000 (One Hundred and Fifty Thousand Dollars).
He was accused of defrauding two Americans, Cara L. Melton and James R. Dunford at different times, through impersonation, thereby dispossesses them of their money.
The defendant is facing a five-count charge bordering on obtaining money by false pretence, possession of fake documents, and Advance Fee Fraud and other Related Offenses, among others.
One of the counts reads: โThat you Soyombo Omgbolahan Ridwan, sometime in September, 2018, at Awa- Ijebu within the Jurisdiction of this Honorable Court with intent to defraud, knowingly had in possession document containing false pretenses to wit: A Google Hang out Account with the email address [email protected] through which you represented yourself as the coordinator of a funding program to one Cara L. Melton, a citizen of the United State of America and informed her that she won the sum of $150,000 (One Hundred and Fifty Thousand Dollars) in the Funding program she applied for, which representation you knew to be false, and thereby committed an offense contrary to section 6 of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offense Act 2006, and punishable under section 1 (3) of the same Act.โ
The accused pleaded not guilty to the offences when read to him.
Consequently, the prosecution counsel, Mr. Mabas Mabur, sought a trial date from the court.
But the defence lawyer, Tunde Lawal, who didnโt oppose to taking a date for trail, applied for bail for his client, arguing that the offences were bailable and that granting the bail would not jeopardise the course of justice in the matter.
After considering the merit of the application, the trial judge granted Soyombo bail in the sum of N1miilion (One Million Naira), with two sureties in like sum.
The sureties, he added, shall be resident in Abeokuta and that one of them must have a landed property within the town. He ordered the defendant to deposit a sum of N200, 000, 00, (Two Hundred Thousand Naira), only with the courtโs registry, which will not be reduced till the final determination of the matter.
The case was later adjourned to March 26, 2019 for trial.
