The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Thursday arraigned suspected internet fraudster, Ani John Chukwuebuka, before Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo of the Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja on a two-count charge bordering on making false statement to a public officer and destruction of evidence.
Ani was arrested during a recent collaborative operation by the EFCC and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
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One of the counts reads: “That you, Ani John Chukwuebuka, on or about the 2nd day of August, 2019 in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, with intent to cause Adenike Sanni, a public officer and an operative of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) from performing her duty as an investigator, gave Adenike Sanni false MTN phone number 08032558370 as your own personal number and thereby caused her to omit to investigate the MTN telephone number which Adenike Sanni ought not to have omitted, if the true facts concerning the phone were known to her.”
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The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charge preferred against him by the EFCC.
In view of his plea, prosecution counsel, CR Edozie, asked the court for a trial date and also prayed the court to remand the defendant in prison custody pending the determination of the case.
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However, the defendant’s lawyer informed the court that an application for bail had been filed and served on the prosecution, adding that “ the prosecution is yet to respond.”
In his response, Edozie, told the court that prosecution Intended to oppose the application and would respond. “My Lord, we are still within the time stipulated by the Law to respond to such an application,” he added.
Consequently, Justice Taiwo adjourned the case to October 2 for hearing of the bail application and ordered the defendant to be remanded in Ikoyi prison.
