Ayodele Olalere
In what could be a case of a dog going back to its vomit, an ex-convict has found himself back in EFCC custody for an offence he was earlier convicted.
The Economic Financial and Crimes Commission, EFCC, has dragged the ex-convict, Amusa Abiodun, before an Ikeja High court to answer for a four-count charge of alleged fraud and being in possession of fraudulent documents.
The fresh arrest of Abiodun is coming after spending one year in prison for a related offence.
He was brought before Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo on Monday, on allegations of retention of proceeds of criminal conduct contrary to Section 17 (a) and (b) of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission Establishment Act, 2004.
Abiodun had earlier been convicted on June 26, 2019 under a plea bargain for his involvement in an internet scam and was sentenced by Justice Sherifat Solebo to one-year imprisonment.
He was however rearrested by EFCC this year for allegedly retaining the control of the sum of N88, 187.773.64k in his First Bank account 3085787943, which the prosecution said were proceeds of various internet and cybercrimes.
When the charge was read to him on Monday, the defendant denied committing any offence between October 24th 2020 and August, 2021.
According to the EFCC Prosecutor, 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.
“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 “yohoo” 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,” the charge read.
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 Related Offences Act No. 14 of 2006.
He was accused to had ” 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 toise.
Further charge revealed the ex-convict ” 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 ”Dustin Mason” printed from your Facebook account linked your E-mail address.”
He however pleaded not guilty to all the charges.
He has been remanded in EFCC’s custody till November 4, 2021 for further hearing of the application for bail or possible commencement of trial.
