Osaze Akhigbe and Ndekwu Jindu have been remanded in Kirikiri Prisons in Lagos State for allegedly duping an American lady of of $64,000, an equivalent of N12 million.
They said the money was for payment for marriage engagement.
The men posed as white men to dupe the American lady via internet.
The two men were arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission before Justice Lawal Akapo of the Lagos State High Court, Ikeja on an 11-count charge bordering on conspiracy to obtain goods and money by false pretence.
The defendants pleaded not guilty to the charge when it was read to them.
Akhigbe and Jindu were arrested by the EFCC in 2013 after receiving a petition from one Jolanta K, an American.
The EFCC spokesman, Wilson Uwujaren, said: “Jolanta alleged that she met Jindu, who introduced himself as a self-employed Caucasian pharmacist, online in June 2012. She said she was impressed by his profile and ‘fell in love’ with him. Both of them agreed to get married.”
According to Uwujaren, the victim further alleged that in the course of the relationship, Jindu, at different times, hoodwinked her into parting with over $64,000.
Count 2 of the charge reads: “That you, Osaze Akhigbe on or about the 6th of September 2012 at Lagos within the Ikeja Judicial Division with the intent to defraud obtained a total sum of $1,900 from one Jolanta K. through western union money transfer under the false pretence that the money represent payment for marriage engagement processes between you and her in Nigeria and which pretence you knew was false.”
In view of the plea of the defendants, the prosecution counsel, A. A. Akujo, asked for a trial date and prayed the court to remand them in prison custody.
Justice Akapo adjourned the case till September 21, 2015 for hearing of their bail application and ordered that the defendants be remanded in Kirikiri Maximum Prison.