EFCC Press Release: EFCC Arraigns Two over Fake Globacom Promo

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Monday 17^th June, 2013 arraigned the duo of Egbearo Friday and Samson Akpaibor before Justice A. M. Liman of the Federal High Court, Benin City, Edo State, on a 17-count charge of conspiracy, forgery, impersonation and obtaining money by false pretences. 

The accused allegedly obtained the sum of N80, 000 from   one Christopher Onwubuemeli under the pretext that he had won N2million in a fake Globacom promo.

Count one and two of the charge read; “That you Egbearo Friday and Akpaibor Samson on or about the 18^th of July, 2011 at Benin, Edo State within the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court of Nigeria, conspired among yourselves to commit felony to wit; obtaining money under false pretence and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 8(a) of the Advance Fee Fraud Related Offences Act No.14 of 2006 and punishable under section 1(3) of the same Act.

“That you Egbearo Friday Akpaibor Samson on or about the 18^th of July,2011 at Benin, Edo State, within the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court of Nigeria, with intent to defraud, obtained the sum of N80,000,00 (eighty thousand naira only) from one Dr Christopher Onwubuemeli, with Guaranty Trust Bank Account No:0032111326 and Teller No:014488281 under the pretence that he won N2,000,000.00 (Two million naira only) in a purported Globacom Recharge and Win Promo, which pretence you knew to be false and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1(1) (a) & (b) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act No.14 of 2006 and punishable under section 1(3) of the same Act”.

The accused persons pleaded not guilty when the charge was read to them.

The prosecution counsel, Moses Arumeni then asked the court to fix a date for trial. However, C. C. Nweke and I. O. Okenwa, counsel to both the first and second accused persons prayed the court to grant their clients bail.

The court granted the accused persons bail in the sum of two million naira each and a surety with landed properties within the jurisdiction of the court.

The case was adjourned to September 25, 2013 for hearing.

Wilson Uwujaren

Ag. Head, Media & Publicity

19^th June, 2013