EFCC Operatives
Internet Fraud
EFCC Operatives
Internet Fraud Suspect Makes U Turn, Begs for Plea
Bargain
A 24 year-old Internet fraud suspect, Babatunde Muhammad Bashir,
who is being prosecuted by the Ilorin Zonal office of the Economic
and Financial Crimes Commission, before Justice Sikiru Oyinloye of
the Kwara State High Court on four counts of internet fraud today
informed the court of his decision to enter into a plea bargain
negotiation with the prosecution.
The defendant had on October 8, 2019 pleaded ‘not guilty’ to the
four count information brought against him by the EFCC.
Count one of the charge reads, “That you, Babatunde Muhammad
Bashir on or about the 20th day of September 2019 in Ilorin, within
the jurisdiction of the High Court of Kwara State, with intend to
defraud, had in your possession a document containing false
pretence, to wit: hangout with +1 6212-913-2052, in which you
represented yourself as a Detective and requested one Mr Elian
Torres Saucedo to send $500 gift cards, a representation you knew
to be false and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 6
and 8 (b) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences
Act 2006 and punishable under Section 1(3) of the same Act”.
When the matter came up for hearing today, October 30, the
prosecuting counsel, Christopher Mschelia informed the court that
the Commission had received a request for plea bargain from the
defendant.
“My Lord, this matter is slated today for commencement of trial
but yesterday the 29th of October 2019 I received an application
for plea bargain on behalf of the defendant. In the light of the
above, we shall be asking for a date to enable us to process the
application, ” he said.
The defence counsel, Lanre Badmus confirmed the application.
Justice Oyinloye consequently adjourned the case to November 13,
2019 for parties to report on the plea agreement.
Wilson Uwujaren
Head, Media & Publicity
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EFCC Arraigns Two for Cybercrime
The Abuja Zonal office of the Economic and Financial Crimes
Commission, EFCC, today October 30, 2019 arraigned the duo of
Ugbede Hassan Ocholi and Ngbegha Job Aondona before Justice Okon
Abang of the Federal High Court, Abuja on a seven count charge
bordering on internet fraud and obtaining under false pretence.
One of the counts reads: “That you Ugbede Hassan Ocholi and
Ngbegha Job Aondona sometime in 2019 at Abuja within the
Jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did conspire between
yourselves to commit an offence to wit: computer related fraud and
thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 14 (1)(b) of
the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc) Act, 2015”.
Both defendants pleaded not guilty, prompting the prosecution
counsel, Aishatu Ibrahim to ask the court for adjournment in order
to present her witnesses for trial.
The defence counsel, Chris Alashi and VM Sefiano, moved bail
applications for their clients which were opposed by the
prosecution counsel.
Justice Abang however granted the defendants bail in the sum of
N1, 500,000 each. They are also to deposit their international
passports with the court registry and must not travel outside of
the court’s jurisdiction without permission of court.
The matter has been adjourned to January 21, 22, and 23, 2020
for trail.
Wilson Uwujaren
Head, Media & Publicity