$127,000 Scam: EFCC Re-arraigns Suspected Fraudster In Port Harcourt

EFCC1A suspected fraudster, Emeofa Michael Ikechukwu, alias Michael Briggs, has been re-arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, before Justice I.E. Ekwo of the Federal High Court, Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

The suspect, who had earlier been arraigned on March 10, 2015, before Justice H.A. Nganjiwa, is being prosecuted on a nine-count charge bordering on impersonation, forgery and obtaining money by false pretense to the tune of over $127,000.

A statement by the Head, Media and Publicity of the anti-graft agency, Wilson Uwujaren, disclosed that Ikechukwu had allegedly obtained the money from his Swiss girlfriend, Misepasi, whom he met on a dating site in February 2013, after hoodwinking her into investing in a phony timber business.

The count read, “That you, Emeofa Michael Ikechukwu, sometime in April, 2013 in Port Harcourt and within the jurisdiction of this honourable court with intent to defraud, did obtain the sum of $77,003.95 from one Misepasi and which you purportedly claimed to be a business partner dealing in timber which pretext you knew to be false and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1 (1) (b) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act 2006 and punishable under section 1 (3) of the same Act”.

The suspect, however, pleaded not guilty when the charges were read to him.

The case has been adjourned till Monday, June 15 for hearing.