Man in Court Over Alleged $5,000 Fraud, Fake Naira Alerts
The Enugu Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned 38-year-old Raheem Abiodun Wasiu before Justice H. O. Eya of the Enugu State High Court, sitting in Independence Layout, over an alleged $5,000 fraud.
Wasiu was arraigned on a two-count charge bordering on stealing by conversion and obtaining money by false pretence.
According to the EFCC, the defendant allegedly obtained $5,000 from Stanley Chukwuamuanya Ezekulie, a Bureau De Change (BDC) operator, under the false pretence that he would transfer the naira equivalent of N7.05 million to him.
The charge stated that the alleged offence was committed on July 6, 2026, in Enugu State, within the jurisdiction of the court.
The alleged offence contravenes Section 1(1)(a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006, and is punishable under Section 1(3) of the same Act.
Wasiu pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Following his plea, the prosecution counsel, Chief Superintendent of the EFCC, CSE Chiekezie Raymond Edozie, urged the court to adjourn the matter for trial and remand the defendant in the custody of the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS), Enugu.
However, defence counsel, A. J. Ebube, orally applied for bail on behalf of the defendant.
The prosecution opposed the application, arguing that it had facts which, if brought before the court, could make the court unwilling to grant the defendant bail. It also prayed for an accelerated hearing of the case.
Justice Eya adjourned the matter to October 28, 2026, for hearing of the bail application, while November 3 and 10, 2026, were fixed for trial.
The defendant was subsequently remanded in the custody of the NCoS.
The EFCC said Wasiu was arrested by operatives of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) following a complaint lodged by Ezekulie, who alleged that the defendant defrauded him of $5,000.
During investigation, the Commission said it discovered that the suspect allegedly rented different Toyota Hilux trucks, posed as a wealthy contractor, moved with escorts and approached BDC operators in the South-East and Akwa Ibom State.
According to the EFCC, Wasiu allegedly used the identity and appearance of a wealthy contractor to gain the confidence of his victims before collecting their money and presenting fake naira payment alerts to them.
