The Makurdi Zonal Office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), on Monday, November 4, 2019, arraigned 26-year-old suspected internet fraudster, James Kuve Sughter in Federal High Court, Makurdi, Benue State, presided over by Justice Mobolaji Olajuwon.
Sughter was docked on two-count charges, bordering on fraud and possession of documents containing false pretences.
One of the charges reads: “That you James Kuve Sughter, between January and October 2018, in Makurdi within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, did dishonesty make use of an electronic unique identification of another person to obtain the sum of N534,971 (Five Hundred and Thirty Four Thousand, Nine Hundred and Seventy-one Naira) only, from one Asiwaju Dada and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 22(2)(a) of the Cybercrime (Prohibition Prevention Etc) Act 2015 and punishable under Section 22(2)(b)(iv) of the same Act.”
He pleaded not guilty to the charges, setting the stage for prosecution counsel, G. G.Chia-Yakua to ask the court for a trial date and for the defendant to be remanded in prison custody. The defence counsel, however, moved an application for his bail on liberal terms.
Justice Olajuwon granted bail to the defendant in the sum of N500,000 (Five Hundred Thousand Naira) with one surety in like sum, who must be a public servant or civil servant on grade level 12 and above, and must reside in Makurdi, own a landed property, and must also present a letter of identification to the court, show evidence of tax clearance and submit two recent passport photographs of his.
The judge adjourned the case till December 9, 2019 for commencement of trial, and ordered that the defendant be remanded in a correctional center, pending the perfection of his bail condition.
Wilson Uwujaren
Head, Media & Publicity
4 November, 2019
