The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is out to get justice for an Irishwoman who allegedly lost over €53,000 to Nigerian fraudsters.
Newsmakers learnt from EFCC’s spokesman, Wilson Uwujaren that the Irish businesswoman, Izabela Glogowska, lost over €53,000 through internet scam.
The anti-corruption agency yesterday arraigned the suspect, Tonwerigha Oyintonbra Tombrown alias Michael Freeman and his company, Yoshinaka Corporation, before Justice A. O. Faji of the Federal High Court, in Asaba, Delta State.
He is facing a 34-count charge bordering on obtaining under false presence.
According to Glogowska, the petitioner, Tombrown posed as a prominent online trader, Michael Freeman, to hoodwink and swindle her.
Count one of the charge reads:
“That you, Tonwerigha Oyintonbra Tombrown alias Michael Freeman, Yoshinaka Corporation, on or about the 8th day of May, 2015, at Warri, Delta State, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, with intent to defraud, did represent yourself as one Michael Freeman a famous online trader and obtain the sum of Five thousand, Eight Hundred Euro’s (£5800) from Izabela Glogowska under the false pretense that you were going to pay the said sum into Izabela Glogowska’s Perfect Money account, a pretense you knew to be false, and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1 (1) (a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006 and punishable under Section 1 (3) of the said Act.
Another count says:
“That you, Tonwerigha Oyintonbra Tombrown alias Michael Freeman, Yoshinaka Corporation, on or about the 11th day of May, 2015, at Asaba, Delta State, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, with intent to defraud, did represent yourself as one Michael Freeman a famous online trader and obtain the sum of Four thousand, Three Hundred Euro’s (£4300) from Izabela Glogowska under the false pretense that you were going to pay the said sum into Izabela Glogowska’s Perfect Money account, a pretense you knew to be false, and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1 (1) (a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006 and punishable under Section 1 (3) of the said Act.”
The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charge when it was read to him.
The prosecuting counsel, S. Hussaini, asked the court to fix a date for the commencement of trial and ordered the accused person to be remanded in prison custody.
Counsel to the defendant, I. B. Azago made an oral application for bail which was refused by the court. He was asked to make a formal application for bail.
Justice Faji adjourned the case to January 23 and 24, 2017. He ordered the defendant to be remanded in prison custody pending the determination of his bail.