EFCC Arraigns Man For Obtaining Property By False Pretences

 

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Ibadan zonal office, on Monday arraigned one Paul Afolabi before Justice Patricia Ajoku of the Federal High Court, Ibadan Judicial Division, on four counts bordering on obtaining property under false pretences.

Afolabi, who allegedly operated under the name, William Sharon, was arrested in Ibadan by EFCC operatives after receiving an intelligence report dated May 10, 2018, alleging that he and other suspects were members of a syndicate formed to dupe people on the Internet.

The petitioner had accused Afolabi and his accomplices of using fake information to obtain Itune GiftCard and Amazon cards from foreigners.

The offences, according to the EFCC, run contrary to Section 1(b) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Related Offences Act, 2006, and are punishable under Section 1(3) of the same Act.

Afolabi pleaded not guilty to the charges as they were read to him.

Following his plea, the EFCC counsel, Lanre Abdulrasheed, prayed the court for a trial date and an order to remand the defendant in prison custody.

The defence counsel, Ololade Animasahun, however, filed a bail application on behalf of his client, which the EFCC lawyer did not oppose.

The presiding judge adjourned the matter till July 3 for a ruling on the bail application and fixed the commencement of trial for September 30.

He also ordered that the accused be remanded in prison till the court would decide on his bail application.