The Ibadan zonal office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Monday, March 25, 2019 arraigned one suspected internet fraudster, Adeite John Olaniyi, before Justice Watilat Ibrahim of the Federal High Court 2, Abeokuta Judicial Division, Ogun State.
The journey to the dock for Olaniyi began with his arrest early in the year after the Commission received series of intelligence reports alleging that he was involved in fraudulent activities ranging from love scam to other forms of internet frauds through which he obtained money from unsuspecting victims.
The defendant was arraigned on a four-count charge bordering on possession of false document contrary to Section 6 and punishable under Section 8 (b) of the Advance Fee Fraud and other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006, and obtaining by false pretense contrary to Section 1 (1) & (2) and punishable under Section 1 (3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006.
Count one of the charge reads: “That you Adeite John Olaniyi ‘m’ sometime in the month of December, 2017 or thereabout, at Awa-Ijebu, Ogun State, within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, with intent to defraud, did obtain by false pretense the sum of Three Hundred united States of American Dollars ($300.00) from one James Evans who resides in Michigan, the United States of America, under the pretense that you are a woman named Cheryl Rudolph, ready to marry him, which pretense you knew to be false and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 1 (1) & (2) and punishable under Section 1 (3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006”.
He, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges preferred against him.
Prosecution counsel, Shamsudden Bashir prayed the court for a trial date and an order to remand in prison custody pending the determination of his case.
Counsel to the defendant, Beauty Ekah, moved an application praying the court to admit the defendant to bail.
However, the EFCC’s counsel did not oppose the bail, but prayed the court to give Olaniyi such conditions that would make him attend his trial.
After listening to both counsels, Justice Ibrahim admitted the defendant to bail in the sum of One Million Naira and two sureties in like sum.
One of the sureties, he ruled, must own landed property with Certificate of Ownership within Abeokuta.
He also ordered that the other surety shall deposit the sum of Two Hundred Thousand Naira with the court, and that both sureties shall be verified by the court and the EFCC.
The case was adjourned to April 10, 2019 for trial.
Meanwhile, the defendant is to be remanded in prison custody pending the perfection of his bail conditions.
