The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) yesterday arraigned the duo of Osaze Akhigbe and Ndekwu Jindu before Justice Lawal Akapo of the Lagos State High Court, Ikeja, on an 11-count charge bordering on conspiracy to obtain goods and money by false pretence.

Akhigbe and Jindu were arrested by the EFCC sometime in 2013 based on a petition from one Jolanta K, an American.

Jolanta alleged that she met Jindu, who introduced himself as a self-employed Caucasian pharmacist, online in June 2012. Impressed by his profile she “fell in love” with him, and both agreed to get married.

She further alleged that in the course of the relationship, the defendant at different times hoodwinked her into parting with over $64,000 USD.

Count 2 of the charge reads; “That you, Osaze Akhigbe on or about the 6th of September 2012 at Lagos within the Ikeja Judicial Division with the intent to defraud obtained a total sum of $1,900 from one Jolanta K. through western union money transfer under the false pretence that the money represent payment for marriage engagement processes between you and her in Nigeria and which pretence you knew was false.”

The defendants pleaded not guilty to the charge when it was read to them.

In view of the plea of the defendants the prosecution counsel, A. A Akujo asked for a trial date and prayed the court to remand them in prison custody.

Justice Akapo adjourned the case till September 21, 2015 for hearing of the bail application and ordered that the defendants be remanded in Kirikiri Maximum Prison

In a related development, arraigned Raymond Duke Haruna before Justice O.C Agbaza of Federal Capital Territory High Court Jabi on an 11-count charge bordering on issuance of dud cheque and obtaining money under false pretence to the tune of N20 milliom.

Haruna, was alleged to have collected N20m from Godwin Maduka as payment for a plot of land at an estate in Wuye District of Abuja belonging to Dove House Investment, which is run by him.

He however, breached the agreement as he was unable to get Maduka the plot of land for which he had been paid. Maduka, subsequently demanded for a refund.

Haruna made a refund of N4m and issued a Diamond Bank cheque of N1m which when presented was returned unpaid.

One of the counts read: “That you Raymond Duke Haruna being the Managing Director of Dove House investment limited on or about the 6th day of December, 2010 in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourble Court obtained the sum of two million naira with Stanbic IBTC Bank Plc, Manager’s cheque number 00217501 from one Godwill Maduka on the pretence of selling to him a plot of land in your estate situated and lying at Wuye, Abuja which pretence you knew was false and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1 (1) (a) of the Advance Fee and Other Fraud Related Offences Act 2006 and punishable under Section 1 (3) of the same Act.”

He pleaded not guilty when the charges were read to him.

Prosecuting counsel, S. A Ugwuegbulam, thereafter, asked the court for a trial date to present his witnesses.

Counsel to the accused, A. Maji, pleaded with the court to allow him present an oral bail application.

Justice Agbaza, however, told the defence counsel to present a formal application and adjourned the case to September 23 and 24 for trial.

Update news