The Enugu Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned Raheem Abiodun Wasiu before Justice H. O. Eya of the Enugu State High Court, sitting at Independence Layout, over an alleged fraud of 5,000 United States dollars.
Wasiu, aged 38, was arraigned on a two count charge of stealing by conversion and obtaining money by false pretence. He pleaded not guilty.
Count two of the charge alleges that on 6 July 2026, in Enugu State and within the jurisdiction of the court, Wasiu Abiodun Raheem, with intent to defraud, obtained 5,000 United States dollars from Stanley Chukwuamuanya Ezekulie. He is said to have done so under the false pretence that he would transfer to Ezekulie the naira equivalent of 7,050,000 naira, a representation he knew to be false.
The offence is contrary to Section 1 (1) (a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and other Fraud Related Offences Act 2006 and is punishable under Section 1 (3) of the same Act.
After the plea, prosecution counsel, Chief Superintendent of the EFCC Chiekezie Raymond Edozie, asked the court to fix a date for trial and to remand the defendant at the Nigerian Correctional Service facility in Enugu.
Defence counsel, A. J. Ebube, made an oral application for bail. The prosecution opposed the application, stating that it had facts which, if brought to the notice of the court, would make the court unwilling to grant bail. The prosecution also asked for an accelerated hearing.
Justice Eya adjourned the matter to 28 October 2026 for the hearing of the bail application, and to 3 and 10 November 2026 for trial. Wasiu was thereafter remanded at the Nigerian Correctional Service facility in Enugu.
He was arrested by operatives of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps following a complaint by Stanley Chukwuamuanya Ezekulie, a Bureau de Change operator, who alleged that he had been defrauded of 5,000 dollars.
EFCC investigators found that the suspect allegedly rented different Toyota Hilux trucks, disguised himself as a wealthy contractor, moved with escorts, and met Bureau de Change operators in the South East and Akwa Ibom State. He is alleged to have tricked them into parting with their money by presenting fake naira payment alerts after collecting foreign currency from them.
By A.Ikechukwu
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