A convicted advance fee fraudster, Amusa Azeez Abiodun, otherwise known as Amusa Abiodun, has been charged before a Lagos High Court, sitting in Ikeja, for alleged fraud two years after completion of his sentence.
Abiodun is facing a four-count charge before Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo, as he pleaded not guilty to the allegations of retention of proceeds of criminal conduct contrary to Section 17 (a) and (b) of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Establishment Act, 2004.
Before his current travail, the defendant had been convicted under a plea bargain agreement and sentenced on 26 June 2019 by Justice Sherifat Solebo to one-year imprisonment over his involvement in an internet scam.
While reading the charge to him on Monday, 1st November, the defendant denied committing any offence between 20th August to 24th October 2021.
He was said to have retained the control of the sum of Eighty-Eight Million, One Hundred and Eighty-Seven Thousand Seven Hundred and Seventy-Three Naira Sixty-Four kobo ( N88, 187.773.64) only in his First Bank account number 3085787943, which were proceeds of various internet and cybercrimes.
According to the counsel to EFCC, S.O Daji Esq. the suspect was brought before the court for alleged possession of fraudulent documents contrary to Section 6(8)(b) and 1(3) (d) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Others Related Offences Act No.14, 2006.
Insisting that the defendant committed the alleged crime, the prosecution charge reads; “Amusa Azeez Abiodun on or about the 2nd day of September. 2021 in Lagos within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court with intent to defraud had in your possession document titled “yahoo” printed from your E-mail address jwallac154@yahoo.com linked to your mobile No. 09064668567 where you represented yourself as John Wallace (an American soldier serving in Afghanistan) which representations you knew or ought to have known to be false.
Additionally, the charge further reads, “Possession of Fraudulent Document contrary to Section 6 (8) (b) and i (3) (d) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Others Fraud Related Offences Act No. 14 of 2006.
Giving particulars of the offence, Daji stated, “Amusa Azeez Abiodun on or about the 2nd day of September 2021 in Lagos within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, with intent to defraud, had in your possession document title “VEC Claim of Benefits” which representations you knew or ought to have known to be false.
The charge further stated that the defendant was also in possession of a fraudulent document contrary to Section 6 (8) (b) and i (3) (d) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act No. 14 of 2006.
What is more, the prosecutor hinted that “Amusa Azeez Abiodun on or about the 2nd day of September 2021 in Lagos within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, with intent to defraud, had in his possession document titled ”Dustin Mason” printed from his Facebook account linked to his Email address.”
The defendant has been remanded in EFCC’s custody until 4th November 2021 by Justice Taiwo for further hearing of the application for bail or possible commencement of trial.
