The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) yesterday arraigned one Joseph Onoja Gabriel before Justice Lawal Akapo of the Lagos State High Court Ikeja on a four-count charge bordering on conspiracy to defraud, impersonation, forgery and using false document.

Gabriel was arrested by the operatives of the EFCC sometime in 2014 following a petition that he impersonated Gabriel Suswan (the immediate past governor of Benue State).

He had attempted to extort money from some foreigners under the pretence of giving them contracts. Aside from that, the accused also procured a fake International passport bearing the name of the former governor but with his own passport photograph.

Part of the charge reads: “Joseph Onoja Gabriel, Augustine Akile (at large), and Victor Kayode (at large) on or about the 29th of October 2014 at Lagos within the Ikeja Judicial Division conspired to defraud one Abdulrahman Nocari of the United Arab Emirates by falsely representing to him that you are Gabriel Torwua Suswan the Governor of Benue State and falsely soliciting a false investment proposal in Real Estates, Hospitality, Tourism, Oil and Gas and Information Technology which you falsely claim will accumulate 15% interest to him.”

Count 2: “Joseph Onoja Gabriel, on or about 29th of October 2014 at Ikeja within the Ikeja Judicial Division falsely represented yourself to one Abdulrahman Nocari of the United Arab Emirates that you are Gabriel Torwua Suswan, the Governor of Benue State to solicit false investment proposal from him.”

When the charges were read to him, Gabriel pleaded not guilty.

Justice Akapo ordered that the defendant be remanded in Kirikiri maximum prison pending his bail application and adjourned the case to November 23, 24 and 25, 2015 for trial.

•Photo shows the authentic Gabriel Suswan.

Update news