EFCC arraigns man for alleged $3,500 fraud

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Wednesday arraigned a man, Abdullahi Mukit, for defrauding unsuspecting online users of $3,500.

Mukit is standing trial before an Ikeja Special Offences Court on a two-count of possession of fraudulent documents and obtaining under false pretences.

The defendant, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge after it was read to him.

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EFCC Counsel, Mr Ahmed Yerima, prayed the court for a trial date and for the defendant to be remanded at the correctional centre pending the commencement of trial.

Defence Counsel, Mr. Idowu Alaba, however, informed the court that his client had applied for a plea bargain agreement.

Alaba asked for a short date to finalise the agreement.

He also prayed that the defendant remained in the custody of the EFCC.

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Justice Mojisola Dada, thereafter, remanded the defendant at EFCC’s custody and adjourned the case until Dec.9 for a hearing of the plea bargain agreement.

Earlier, the EFCC alleged that the defendant committed the offences on April 18 in Lagos.

The anti-graft agency said that the defendant, with intent to defraud, had in his possession a document printed from his text-plus account, linked to his mobile number to defraud unsuspecting members of the public.

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The commission also submitted that the defendant fraudulently obtained an aggregate sum of $3,500 from unsuspecting members of the public, by falsely representing himself as a female.

According to EFCC, the alleged offences violate Sections 1(1)(2) and 6, (8)(b) and 1 (3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act, No. 14, 2006.