The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Thursday arraigned one
Christian Efe Oyovweyho alias Femi Adesina before Justice Z.B Abubakar
of the Federal High Court Kano on a two count charge of obtaining by
false pretence.
The defendant allegedly impersonated the Special
Adviser on Media and Publicity to President Muhammad Buhari, Femi
Adesina and attempted to obtain the sum of N300,000 from a professor of
Economics at Bayero University Kano, Dalhatu Mohammed Galadanci.
According
to the complainant, sometime in July 2016, the defendant sent him a
text message claiming to be Femi Adesina, S.A to the president on Media
and Publicity.
The defendant fraudulently
claimed to be speaking on behalf of the president and that the name of
the professor has been forwarded for appointment in the presidency. The
complainant further stated that the defendant claimed to be searching
for a better office for him. Subsequently, the defendant asked the
professor to make payment of the sum of N300,000 to facilitate his
appointment to Nigeria Port Authority or Nigerian Railway Cooperation
and Rural Electrification.
At that point, the professor got suspicious and reported the matter to the commission.
One
of the charges reads: “ You Christian Efe Oyovweyho alias Femi Adesina
and another (now at large) on or about 16th day of July, 2016 at Kano,
within the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court Kano with intent to
defraud attempted to obtain the sum of N300,000 from Professor Dalhatu
Mohammed Galadanci through your Zenith Bank Account with Account number:
2173729401, under the false pretence that the money was meant for a
juicy appointment in Abuja , which pretence you knew to be false and
thereby committed an offense contrary to section 8 (b) of the Advance
Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006 and punishable
under section 1 (3) of the same Act. After listening to the charge, the
defendant pleaded not guilty.
Prosecution counsel, Musa Isah,
requested for a date for trial in view of the plea of defendant. Counsel
representing the defendant, T.M Oyedema, however brought a motion for
bail, praying the court to admit his client to bail pending the hearing
and determination of the case. Justice Zainab granted the defendant bail
in the sum of N500,000 and two sureties in like sum. One of the
sureties must be a State or Federal government official not below grade
level 8.
The other surety must be a respected member of the
society with a landed property within the jurisdiction. Also the
certificate of Occupancy in respect of the landed property shall be
deposited with the Deputy Chief Registrar of the court. The case has
been adjourned to 11th April, 2017 for commencement of trial while the
defendant remains in prison custody pending the perfection of his bail
terms.
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