Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court 2, Ibadan, Oyo State has ordered that a suspected internet fraudster, Hassan Adesegun Adewale, be remanded in prison pending the determination of a case filed against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Ibadan zonal office.
The judge gave the order on Tuesday, April 16, 2019 after the suspect pleaded not guilty to the criminal allegations for which he was arraigned.
He was said to have used his computer and the internet facility to fraudulently impersonate one Jessy West Reade, using the name to obtain the sum of Four Thousand, Two Hundred and Eighty-Five United States of America Dollars ($4, 285.00) from one Larry Obrien who resides in California, the United States of America. Hassan falsely presented himself to be a lady to his victim, promising to marry him.
The EFCC thus arraigned him on a three-count charge bordering on obtaining by false pretense, possession of fraudulent documents and impersonation.
Each of the offences was contrary to Sections “1 (1) and (2) and punishable under Section 1 (3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006; contrary to Section 6 and punishable under Section 8 (b) of the Advance Fee Fraud and other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006; and contrary to Section 22 (3) (b) and punishable under Section 22 (4) of the Cyber Crimes (Prohibition, Prevention Etc) Act, 2015”.
After pleading not guilty to the charges, the EFCC lawyer, Abdulrasheed Suleman, prayed the court for a trial date and an order to remand the defendant in prison custody.
Counsel to the accused, D. Oderinmolu, had earlier told the court that his client was considering a plea bargain agreement with the prosecution.
Having listened to submissions from both sides, the presiding judge adjourned to May 8 for trial, and ordered that the defendant be remanded in the Agodi prison pending the determination of his case.
