The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Tuesday, secured the conviction of a notorious fraudster, Abiodun Edward, a member of a syndicate which specializes in impersonating staff of the agency, to defraud unsuspecting victims.
Edward was arraigned on Wednesday, October 14, 2015 and prosecuted on a 3-count charge of impersonation and obtaining by false pretence to the tune of N10 million before Justice Beatrice Iliya of the State High Court, Gombe.
The convict and his accomplices, Murtala Bello and Esther Momoh, who are still at large, had allegedly claimed to be staff of EFCC Abuja Office, in order to defraud one Umar Bello.
The complainant alleged that Bello had, on March 13, 2015 phoned him, assuring him that the convict could “kill” a petition purportedly written against him, if he could part with a sum of N10 million.
Consequently, Bello was said to have sent the phone number of Momoh who claimed to be a principal detective superintendent, PDS, with EFCC to the victim for further discussion on how the money could be paid to them.
The complainant later alleged that after negotiation, the convict agreed to collect N300,000 from him when he could not raise the initial N10 million.
He further said one ‘Laolu Adegbite’ who claimed to be the officer handling his purported case, sent an SMS to him to appear before the Commission on March 23, 2015.
According to him, owing to the persistent threat by the convict, he paid the sum of N50,000.00 into the convict’s Diamond Bank account number, 0044213102, which was sent to him by Momoh on March 25, 2015.
Worried by the persistent threat by the convict over the balance of N250, 000.00, the victim petitioned EFCC, which led to convict’s arrest and subsequent prosecution.
Justice Iliya found Edward guilty of two counts and sentenced him to seven years imprisonment on each of the count without option of fine.
The sentences are to run concurrently from the date of the convict’s arraignment.
Justice Iliya also ordered the convict to pay N50, 000.00 as restitution to the victim.
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