EFCC arraigns suspected Internet fraudster over N8.5m fraud

A suspected Internet fraudster has been arraigned over an N8.5m scam.

On Tuesday, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) arraigned one Ikenna Onwuzuruike, also known as Jeff Sikora, before Justice A.T. Mohammed of the Federal High Court in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital.

The accused who claims to be the chief executive officer and president of United States-based Prime Trust Credit Union Bank, was arraigned by the EFCC, Port Harcourt Zone.

He faced eight counts bordering on  forgery, conspiracy, possession of proceeds, impersonation and obtaining money by false pretence.

The suspected Internet fraudster allegedly scammed his victims to the tune of $8.5m.

The offence contravenes Section 1 (1) (a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and other related offences Act, 2006 and punishable under Section 1 (3) of the same Act.

The charge sheet partly read,

“That you, Onwuzuruike Ikenna Kingsley (aka Jeff Sikora), on or about the 28th day of December, 2019, at Umuahia, Abia State, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, with intent to defraud, did obtain the sum of $6,500,000 through web transfer from one Mr. Selah Elnagar Ali Ahmed, a citizen of the Arabic Republic of Egypt, with the pretence that he is a beneficiary of inheritance funds in a fixed deposit account of Prime Trust Financial Bank, USA, a pretext you knew to be false and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1 (1) (a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and other related offences Act, 2006 and punishable under Section 1 (3) of the same Act.”

The suspected Internet fraudster, Onwuzuruike however, pleaded not guilty.

The matter was adjourned to July 3, 2020 for hearing Justice Mohammed. The judge also gave the order that the defendant be remanded in EFCC custody.