The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Monday arraigned one Gbenga Yusuf John, a suspected Internet fraudster, before Justice A. M. Nicol-Clay of the State High Court sitting in Igbosere, Lagos, on a three-count charge bordering on conspiracy and forgery.

The accused person, while posing as an American working in Nigeria, conned a U.S. lady whom he met on a dating site by claiming that he own a number of rental properties in Southwest Florida, USA.

Upon their meeting, the accused person allegedly told the victim that he was currently in Africa to give aid to victims of Ebola disease and sought her assistance in managing his rental deposit while he was away.

Consequently, the victim allegedly processed the rental deposits and received thousands of dollars in postal money order mailed directly to her by the accused person.

The unsuspecting victim allegedly deposited all the cheques, acquire cash and then transferred the funds through Western Union to Yusuf.

One of the counts reads: “Gbenga Yusuf John on or about the 26th day of February, 2006 in Lagos within the Lagos Judicial Division, had in your possession a document dated Tuesday, February 3, 2015 in which you represented yourself as James Carter, born and raised in United State of America but presently reside in Nigeria where you are doing electronic business which representation you knew or ought to have known to be false having regard to the circumstances of this case.”

The accused person pleaded not guilty to the charges.

In view of his plea, the prosecution counsel, M. Aliyu, asked the court for a trial date and prayed that the accused person be remanded in prison custody

However, counsel to the accused, S.O. Obaje, who did object to the submissions of the prosecution, pleaded with the court for a short date to file his application for bail.

After listening to both parties, Justice Nicol-Clay remanded the accused person in prison custody and adjourned the matter to June 20, 2017 for hearing of the bail application and the continuation of trial.

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