Segun Atanda/
Three suspected members of an international fraud syndicate held over impersonation of President Muhammadu Buhari and his wife, Aisha, were brought before Justice Babs Kiewumi at a Federal High Court in Lagos today to face a 16-count charge of swindling their victims of $20.5million (N7.44billion).
The suspects, who were arraigned by the Anti-Fraud Unit of the Force Criminal Investigations and Intelligence Department (FCIID), Alagbon Close, Ikoyi, in Lagos, were identified as 48-year-old Uche Anyanwu Julius a.k.a Musa Mohammed, Kenneth Chukwudi Ezeonu a.k.a Abdul Karim, 45, and Agu Ifeanyi George a.k.a Dr Lina Norman, 48.
They allegedly swindled the victims outside Nigeria by using forged e-mail purported to be that of the President and his wife.
The Commissioner of Police in charge of the Anti-Fraud Unit, Mr Dan Okoro bust the syndicate with members in many countries.
Details of the alleged crime were listed in the 16-count criminal charge marked FHC/C/392C/2018 signed and filed before the court by Assistant Commissioner of Police, Mr Benson Asogwa, as:
COUNT 1:
That you Uche Anyanwu Julius “m” aka “Musa Mohammed” and others at large on August 8, 2018, at No. 10 Hassan Idowu Street Aguda Surulere, Lagos within the Lagos judicial division of this Honourable Court with intent to defraud did send forged electronic messages to one Engr. Gmemnzes, Attention: Geraldo Francisco Menezes purporting same to have been sent by her Excellency, Mrs. Aisha Buhari, the First Lady and wife of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency, President Muhammed, Buhari GCFR, in respect of IMMEDIATE PAYMENT OF NOTIFICATION OF $20, 500,000.00 (Twenty Million, Five Hundred Thousand US Dollar) equivalent of #7.44,000,000.00 (Seven Billion, Forty Four Million Naira) and thereby committed an offense punishable under section 14(3) of the cybercrimes (prohibition, prevention, ETC) Act, 2015.
COUNT 2:
That you Uche Anyanwu Julius ‘m’ aka “Musa Mohammed” and others at large on September 13, 2017, at the aforesaid place and judicial Division did send forged electronic messages to one Roy Tailor,
Attention: All Genuine Funds Owners purporting same to have been sent by Her Excellency, Mrs. Aisha Buhari, the First Lady and wife of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Muhammed Buhari GCFR, has requested to be contacted directly for the release of an undisclosed outstanding/pending payment, among others and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 14(3) of the cybercrimes (Prohibition, prevention, ETC) Act, 2015.
COUNT 3:
That you Uche Anyanwu Julius ‘m’ aka “Musa Mohammed” and others at large on November 15, 2017, at the aforesaid place and judicial Division did send forged electronic messages to one Madaulc, Attention: Dr. Guenter Schauer purporting same to have been sent by Her Excellency, Mrs. Aisha Buhari, the First Lady and wife of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria , His Excellency, President Muhammad Buhari GCFR requesting for a special arrangement to send you unspecified funds by direct cash payment through ECOWAS Headquarters in Cotonou, among others and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 14(3) of the cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, ETC) Act, 2015.
COUNT 4:
That you Uche Anyanwu Julius ‘m’ aka Musa Mohammed” and others at large on May 11, 2018, at the aforesaid place and judicial Division did send forged electronic messages to one Ubsrlongo, Attention: Romana Longo purporting same to have been sent by Her Excellency, Mrs. Aisha Buhari, the First Lady and wife of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency, President Muhammadu Buhari GCFR, referring to an arrangement between US Department of Treasury Direct Account and President Muhammad Buhari GCFR, relating to the formalization and revocation of the united states financial impropriety, among others and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 14(3) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, ETC) Act 2015.
COUNT 5
That you Uche Anyanwu Julius ‘m’ aka Musa Mohammed” and others at large on August 4, 2015 at the aforesaid place and judicial Division did send forged electronic messages to “UBA BANK” purporting same to have been sent by Her Excellency, Mrs. Aisha Buhari, the First Lady and wife of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria His Excellency, President Muhammad Buhari GCFR, relating to IMMEDIATE PAYMENT NOTIFICATION Valued at $20.500,000 (Twenty Million, Five Hundred Thousand US Dollar) among others and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 14(3) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, ETC) Act, 2015.
COUNT 6
That you Uche Anyanwu Julius ‘m’ aka Musa Mohammed” and others at large on August 8, 2018, at the aforesaid place and Judicial Division did send forged electronic messages to one Wiedmantom, Attention: Wiedman Tom purporting same to have been sent by Her Excellency, Mrs Aisha Buhari, the First Lady and wife of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency, President Muhammad Buhari GCFR, relating to guarantee for certain undisclosed payment, among others and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 14(3) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, ETC) Act, 2015.
COUNT 7
That you Uche Anyanwu Julius ‘m’ aka Musa Mohammed” and others at large on June 10, 2018, at the aforesaid place and Judicial Division did send forged electronic messages to one Werner Muller, purporting same to have been sent by Her Excellency, Mrs Aisha Buhari, the First Lady and wife of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency, President Muhammad Buhari GCFR, relating to a payment captioned “ADVANCE PAYMENTS ARE NOT POSSIBLE FOR ME!!”, among others and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 14(3) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, ETC) Act, 2015.
COUNT 8
That you Uche Anyanwu Julius ‘m’ aka Musa Mohammed” and others at large on September 13, 2017, at the aforesaid place and judicial Division did send forged electronic messages to one Roy Tailor, Attention: All Genuine Funds Owners purporting same to have been sent by Her Excellency, Mrs Aisha Buhari, the First Lady and wife of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency, President Muhammad Buhari GCFR, relating to a notice from Office of the Presidency, among others and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 14(3) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, ETC) Act, 2015.
COUNT 9
That you Uche Anyanwu Julius ‘m’ aka Musa Mohammed” and others at large between August 8, 2018, and June 2018 at the aforesaid place and judicial Division did impersonate to be Her Excellency, Mrs Aisha Buhari, the First Lady and wife of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria His Excellency, President Muhammad Buhari GCFR, by sending the aforesaid electronic messages to the aforesaid persons in her name and with intent to gain advantage to yourself and did fraudulently obtain $20.5 billion USD equivalent of N7.44 Billion from one Mr. William Carrol Shute, and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 22(2)(b) of the cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, ETC) Act, 2015.
COUNT 10
That you Uche Anyanwu Julius ‘m’ aka Musa Mohammed” and others at large between August 8, 2018, and June 2018 at the aforesaid place and judicial Division did impersonate to be Her Excellency, Mrs Aisha Buhari, the First Lady and wife of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria His Excellency, President Muhammad Buhari GCFR, by sending the aforesaid electronic messages to the aforesaid persons in her name and with intent to gain advantage to yourself and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 22(2)(b) of the cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, ETC) Act, 2015.
COUNT 11
That you Keneth Chikwado Ezeomu ‘m’ aka “Abdul Karim” on September 22, 2018 at No. 4a, Alhaji Kayode Street, Aguda Surulere, Lagos at the aforesaid Judicial Division did send forged electronic messages to one Mohammed Satti relating to the nomination of the said Mohammed Satti as the beneficiary of $14,800,000.00 USD which you knew to be false and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 14(3) of the cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, ETC) Act, 2015.
COUNT 12
That you Keneth Chikwado Ezeomu ‘m’ aka “Abdul Karim” on September 22, 2018, at the aforesaid Judicial Division did send forged electronic messages to one Edna relating to her nomination by Byrant Scot to receive funds as a beneficiary, a representation you knew to be false but did so with a view to extorting money from the said Edna and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 14(3) of the cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, ETC) Act, 2015.
COUNT 13
That you Keneth Chikwado Ezeonu ‘m’ aka “Abdul Karim” on September 22, 2018, at the aforesaid Judicial Division did send forged electronic messages to one Edna Samson relating to her nomination by Byrant Scot to receive a consignment, a representation you knew to be false and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 14(3) of the cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, ETC) Act, 2015.
COUNT 14
That you Keneth Chikwado Ezeonu ‘m’ aka “Abdul Karim” on September 30, 2018, at the aforesaid Judicial Division did send forged electronic messages to one Hyun Kim of South Korea relating to a loan of $10,000.00 (Ten Thousand US Dollar) from Citi Bank Dubai, UAE with a view to stealing the said sum from him and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 14(3) of the cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, ETC) Act, 2015.
COUNT 15
That you Agu Ifeanyi George ‘m’ aka “Dr Lina Norman” on October 1, 2018 at No 4a, Alhaji Kayode Close, Aguda Surulere, Lagos at the aforesaid Judicial Division did send forged electronic messages to one Grezegorz Siewierski relating to you being in a Refugee Camp due to a battle that forced you and your kids to the Camp, a representation you knew to be false but did with intent to stealing US $15,500.000.00 (Fifteen Million, Five Hundred Thousand Dollar) from him and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 14(3) of the cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, ETC) Act, 2015.
COUNT 16
That you Agu Ifeanyi George ‘m’ aka “Dr Lina Norman” on September 26, 2018 at the aforesaid Judicial Division did send forged electronic messages to one M.J Gabela where you claimed to be one Dr. Lina Norman, a medical practitioner from Damsacus, Syria, seeking for assistance to help you and your two daughters relocate to Syria, a representation you knew to be false but did so with intent to stealing some funds from him and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 14(3) of the cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, ETC) Act, 2015.
The accused persons pleaded not guilty to all the charges, consequently, the Police legal officer, Mr Benson Asogwa, urged the court to remand them in prison custody and fix a trial date.
Justice Kiewumi adjourned the case till January 18, 2019, for the trial to commence.
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