The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Tuesday arraigned four persons before an Ikeja Federal High Court for allegedly obtaining various sums of money ($67,740 Dollar and N104, 366.69) under false pretence from one Filip Disanza, a German national.
Saturday Ovie, also known variously as David Makos, Olu Shola, Dr. Segun Obasanjo, was accused of the defrauding the German in league with Udugba Benson, Boyo Oritsetimiyn Bobby and Ovisco-Link Nigeria Limited.
The accused persons were arraigned on a seven- count charge before Justice Stephen Adah. When the charges were read, the accused persons pleaded not guilty.
Counsel to EFCC, Cosmos Ugwu, then asked the court to remand the accused persons in prison custody and a date fixed for the commencement of trial.
However, counsel to the 3rd accused person, Ali Abah said he had filed a bail application on behalf of his client. Counsel s to the 1st and 2nd accused persons also canvassed a similar argument, which turned down by Justice Adah, who ordered that they be remanded in Kirikiri prison, while adjourning the case to January 30 for when hearing on the bail application.
Mr. Disanza had petitioned the anti-graft agency on March 19, 2010 alleging that he was defrauded of some amount of money by some Nigerian fraudsters who deceptively represented themselves as Barristers David Makos and Olu Shola, while also pretending to be gold merchants.
According to mr. Disanza, at different times he was made to travel to Ghana where he met with the fraudsters and paid over $500,000 into their nominated accounts in Nigeria and Ghana.
He said the first accused person, Saturday Ovie, who lives in Sapele, Delta State, had dropped out of Okotie-Eboh Secondary School in Senior Secondary 3 due to financial problems to take up brick layering as a vocation, adding that he later went to Ghana where he perfected his criminal act before returning to Nigeria.
Udugba Benson, who was born in 1971 at Ughelli, attended Ogbe Primary School, Benin City, Edo State, but later dropped out in primary five to learn furniture making.
For 36 years old Richard Boyo, who was born in Warri, Delta State, he attended Orphpele Primary School, Sapele, and Government Secondary School , Wuse, Abuja as well as Edo State University , Ekpoma.
The German said part of what Saturday Ovie did to convince him he was fraudster was when he forged the Ghana Bar Association Certificate of practice with serial No. GBA369329 purportedly signed by the Ghana Bar Association Chairman, with an identity card photographed in the name of David Makos (Esq.).
Part of the charge against the accused persons read:
Count 1
“That you Saturday Ovie (aka David Makos, Olu Shola, Dr. Segun Obasanjo) Udugba Benson, Boyo Oritsetimiyn and Ovisco Link Nigeria Limited on or about the 19th of Nov. 2011 at Lagos within the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court conspired to commit an offence to wit, obtaining money under false pretences from one Filip Disanza a German national and thereby committed an offence punishable under sections 1(3) and 8 of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act. 2006
Count 2
“That you Saturday Ovie (aka David Makos, Olu Shola, Dr. Segun Obasanjo) and Ovisco-Link Nig Ltd between 2nd Oct 2009 and 9th Dec. 2009 at Ogharefe within the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court fraudulently obtained the sum of $59,660 (Fifty nine thousand six hundred and sixty USD) from one Filip Disanza, a German national under the false pretence that the amount was payment for gold which pretence you knew to be false and thereby committed an offence punishable under Sections 1(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offence Act, 2006.
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