Photo: Father and son arraigned for $4,256 internet scam

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission,
EFCC, on March 24, 2015 arraigned Justice
Unuafe and his son, Omorigho Unuafe, before
Justice Lambo Akanbi of the Federal High Court
Port Harcourt, Rivers State, on a 4-count
charge bordering on obstruction, possession of
fraudulent documents and obtaining money by false
pretense.
Father and son were arrested by operatives of the
EFCC upon intelligence gathered while
investigating a reported case of internet scam.
The duo who are jobless, were found in possession of
Honda Accord 2004 model and an Acura ZDX, without
document to prove how they got the vehicles. They also
have an almost completed storey building located in Delta
State . The accused persons decidedly refused to give the
EFCC operatives the required information needed from
them for the investigation.
One of the charges reads:
“That you Justice Unuafe on or about the 12th day of
February, 2015 at Port Harcourt within the jurisdiction
of this honorable court did obstruct the officers of the
Economic and Financial Crimes Commission by refusing
to give the details of your account number, the details of
your relation who sold Acura ZDX with registration
number SMK 307 DC to you and other information
requested from you and thereby committed an offence
contrary to and punishable under Section 38 (2) (b0 of the
Economics and Financial Crimes Commission
(Establishment) Act, 2004.”
Another charge reads:
“That you Omorigho Justice Unuafe on or about 30th day
of December, 2014 at Port Harcourt within the
jurisdiction of this honorable court with intent to defraud,
did obtain the total sum of $4,256 (Four Thousand Two
Hundred and Fifty Six Dollars) by false pretence from
one Cheng Chung Shin by representing yourself as
MARO MOTON, which you knew to be false and
thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1 (1) (a)
of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related
Offences Act, 2006 and Punishable under Section 1 (3) of
the said Act.”
They pleaded not guilty when the charges were read to
them.
In view of their pleas, counsel to EFCC, Sadiq
Hussain, prayed the court to fix a date for trial to
commence, while the accused persons be remand in EFCC
custody.
The defence counsel, C. I. Anyaghbuna, however,
pleaded for bail for the accused persons.
In his ruling, Justice Akanbi granted them bail in the sum
of N500,000 (Five Thousand Naira) with one surety each
in like sum. The sureties must have their addresses verified
by the EFCC, and must be responsible members of the
society.
The matter has been adjourned to May 20, 2015 for trial.