EFCC Arraigns Man For Allegedly Defrauding American In Kaduna

The Kaduna Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has brought charges against an individual named Sunday Simon, who also goes by the alias "Ryan Eggold."

He was arraigned before Justice A.A. Isiaka of the Kaduna State High Court in Kaduna for allegedly defrauding an American citizen, Garri Kalish, of $800.

Simon was arrested by the EFCC at Agwa, Trikania in Kaduna, during a sting operation.

During the investigations, his mobile phone was analysed and it revealed different fake Instagram accounts and Facebook accounts where he presented himself as an American actor, Ryan Eggold, in his chats with unsuspecting women.

Simon was therefore arraigned on two-count charges bordering on cybercrime. One of the counts reads: “That you, Sunday Simon (a.k.a Ryan Eggold, male, sometime in April 2023 in Kaduna, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, with intent to defraud, did obtain the sum of $800 (eight hundred United States dollars) from one Garri Kalish, a citizen of the United States of America under the pretence of being into a romantic relationship, a pretence you knew to be false, and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1(1)(a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offence Act, 2006 and punishable under Section 1(3) of the same Act.”

The suspect pleaded not guilty to the two charges.

In view of his plea, prosecution counsel K. Ogunlade prayed the court for a trial date and the remand of the defendant at the Kaduna Correctional Centre.