The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Lagos zonal office, on Thursday, March 19, 2020 arraigned one Unigwe Charles Chidozie before Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo of the Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos on a six-count charge bordering on possession of fraudulent documents and obtaining money by false pretence to the tune of $39, 000 (Thirty-Nine Thousand United States Dollars).
The defendant was alleged to have been involved in internet fraud activities and has defrauded many foreigners of their monies.
One of the charges reads: “That you Unigwe Charles Chidozie (a.k.a. Bryan Matt) sometime in 2019 in Lagos within the Ikeja Judicial Division of this Honourable Court with intent to defraud, presented yourself to Mrs. Sari Prathaningrum a citizen of Indonesi, as Bryan Matt, a friend of one Capt. Jeff purportedly serving American Navy and deceitfully obtained the sum of $30,000 (Thirty Thousand US Dollars) from the said Mrs. Sari Prathaningrum, on the understanding that Capt. Jeff is in love with her and that the said amount will be used for the payment of some loan which would be refunded immediately after your return from a mission in South America, which pretence you knew was false.”
The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charges preferred against him by the EFCC.
In view of the plea, the prosecution counsel, Ahmed Yerima, asked the court for a trial date and prayed the court to remand the defendant in correctional facility pending the outcome of the case.
The defence counsel, Richard Oma informed the court that he has filed and served the prosecution with a bail application, and therefore urged the court to grant his client bail.
In response, prosecution counsel, Yerima admitted receiving the application but told the court that he needed time to respond to the application as he was still within the time frame provided by law to respond to the application.
Justice Taiwo, after listening to both parties, gave prosecution one week to respond to the application.
The matter was adjourned till March 25, 2020 for hearing of the application.
Justice Taiwo ordered the remand of the defendant in a correctional facility pending the hearing of the bail application
Tony Orilade
Acting Head, Media & Publicity
March 20, 2020
