The suspected fraudster, Akpoguma Onome Patrick that offered police at Zone 2, Onikan, Lagos N174 million to be set free has been arraigned in court.
The defendant in the case titled; FHC/L/844C/2024, INSPECTOR GENERAL OF POLICE V. AKPOGUMA ONOME PATRICK, was arraigned on Wednesday morning. He pleaded not guilty to the 7 counts charges.
The prosecutor, Z. Arekhandia Esq. applied for a trial date base on the plea of not guilty of the defendant, while the defendant’s lawyer, Olatunji Kolawole informed the Court that he has bail application for the defendant. The case is presided over by Hon. Justice Kakaki of the Federal High Court Ikoyi, Lagos.
The charge reads in part; “The defendant and others now at large between 2020 and 11th November, 2024 at Benin City, Edo State and Block A, Noheem Adams Crescent Chevy View Estate, Lekki, Lagos State, within the jurisdiction of the Lagos Judicial Division of the Federal High Court, did conspire to commit felony to wit: identity theft and impersonation, obtaining money by false pretense and conversion of proceeds of criminal act, and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 8(a) and punishable under Section 1 (3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006 and Section 27 (1) (b) of the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2015 (as amended).”
According to the charges, Akpoma Onome Patrick fraudulently obtained the sum of $58,000 US Dollars (Fifty Eight Thousand Dollars) from his victims on the pretext that he needs the money as loan for his “business project in Florida USA”, a representation he knew to be false. He was charged to have committed an offence contrary to Section 1 (1) and punishable under Section 1 (3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offence Act, 2006.”
He was also charged for fraudulently obtaining the sum of $37,500 US Dollars from his other victims.
The count reads; “That you Akpakuma Onome Patrick ‘m’, and others now at large on the same date and place, in the aforesaid Lagos Judicial Division of the Federal High Court, did convert to your own use and benefit the sum of $37,500 USD (Thirty Seven Thousand USA Dollars) you fraudulent obtained from Mark Alien, Eric Allan, Avere, Lume Portal Smith, which you knew or reasonably ought to have known was proceed of criminal act to wit: identify theft and impersonation and obtaining property by false pretense, by false pretense and thereby committed an offense contrary to Section 18 (2) (a) (b) (c) and (d) and punishable under Section 18 (3) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2022.”
Justice Kakaki adjourned the case to 4th February, 2024 for bail application.
