The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC), on Thursday, arraigned an undergraduate of the University of Benin, Kenneth Rukewe Ebule on a 6- count charge bordering on forgery, obtaining money by false pretence and possession of fraudulent documents.
This was contained in a press statement made available to The Nigerian Times on Friday by the Commission’s spokesperson, Wilson Uwujaren.
The accused person who was arraigned before Justice E. F Ikponmwen of an Edo State High Court, sitting in Benin- City allegedly duped Sabine Albert, a German, of the sum of $12, 088, 75 through fraudulent claims.
Rukewe, 30, a final year student of Computer and Statistics at the University of Benin, was arrested by officials of a new generation bank on May 28, 2014 in Benin City and handed over to the EFCC for further investigation.
Troubles started for him when Albert alleged that within two months after he had internet contact with him, Rukewe fraudulently obtained the sum of $12,088,75 (Twelve Thousand Eighty Eight Dollars and Seventy Five Cents) from him.
Rukewe allegedly posed to Albert as an English businessman on transit in Nigeria. He gave his name as Bob Albert and told his victim that he had a contract with a Nigerian company worth €1.200, 000.00 and that he needed a loan to facilitate a transaction with the company.
He promised to pay back the loan and even doubled it because he was sure of pulling off the transaction.
He also told Albert that he had complications and suffered a robbery attack.
Rukewe also falsely told Albert that, a levy of of N1,975,861 was imposed on him by the Federal Inland Revenue Service for the release of his International Passport, and a cheque worth 1, 200,000 Euros. He also pleaded for a flight ticket to London.
Based on all these, Albert offered to loan him the money by sending it through Western Union, only to discover that he had been scammed.
Investigation also revealed that the suspect had defrauded other German nationals to the tune of $110,975.00USD between May 2013 and January 2014.
When the charges were read to the defendant, he pleaded not guilty.
One of the charges read in part: “Ebule Kenneth Rukewe (a.k.a. Bob Albert), on or about the 17th day of July, 2013 within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, with Intent to defraud, obtained the sum of $12,088,75 (Twelve Thousand Eighty Eight Dollars and Seventy Five Cents) from Sabine Albert (a German National), under the false pretence that the money represented part payment of N1,975,861 (One Million Nine Hundred and Seventy Kobo) levy imposed one Bobby Albert (a British citizen) by the Federal Inland Revenue Service for the release of the International Passport, Cheque worth 1,200,000 Euros and flight ticket to London of the said Bobby Albert, which representation you knew to be false”.
In view of the plea of the defendant, prosecution counsel, Kayode Oni asked for a trial date and prayed the court to remand the defendant in prison custody.
The defence counsel, Maureen Morka informed the court of her application for bail dated September 9, 2014 and prayed the court to grant the defendant bail.
Justice Ikponmwen granted the defendant bail in the sum of One Million Naira and two sureties in like sum.
The sureties must be resident in Benin City and must be gainfully employed in Edo State.
The defendant must also produce his student identity card. Justice Ikponmwen subsequently adjourned the case to November 21, 2014 for hearing and ordered that the defendant be remanded in prison custody pending the perfection of his bail.
In another development, a Federal High Court sitting in Kaduna presided over by Justice Evelyn Anyadike on Thursday, threw out the no-case submission by a former cashier of Giwa Local Government Area of Kaduna State Alhaji Aminu Ya’u, who is standing trial for money laundering .
When the prosecution closed its case in June, 2014 counsel to the accused person, Mr. Yunus Ustaz Usman, SAN, made a no-case submission, contending that none of the prosecution witnesses or documents tendered linked the accused with the alleged offence.
But lead prosecuting counsel, M.S Abubakar argued that the evidence provided by the witnesses as well as the proof of evidence had established a prima facie case against the accused.
The court in its ruling agreed with the prosecution and overruled the no-case submission by the accused.
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The former council cashier was investigated in February, 2012 after an intelligence report established that his lifestyle could not be supported by his known sources of income.
Investigation subsequently revealed that he had been fraudulently re- adjusting his monthly salary and paying himself a monthly wage of N388, 613.50 instead of N49,023.48 which he was entitled to.
He is alleged to have built an Ultra-Modern Mansion worth millions of Naira at Madaki Street, Opposite Teckon International School Gyellesu, Zaria; five bed room bungalows at Turaki Street Gyellesu, Zaria and a borehole drilling Company named Yuzafa Company in Giwa Local Government Area of Kaduna State.
Following the dismissal of the no case submission, the court ordered the accused to enter his defence while the case has been adjourned to December 3, 2014 for further hearing.