EFCC arraigns four over $68,740 fraud

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Tuesday arraigned four persons – Saturday Ovie (aka David Makos, Olu Shola, Dr. Segun Obasanjo), Udugba Benson, Boyo Oritsetimiyn Bobby and Ovisco-Link Nigeria Limited – before a Federal High Court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos for allegedly obtaining various sum of money ($67,740 Dollar and N104, 366.69) under false pretence from one Filip Disanza, a German national.

The Acting Head, Media and Publicity of the EFCC, Wilson Uwujaren, said in a statement that the accused persons were arraigned on a seven-count charge before Justice Stephen Adah.

When the charges were read, the accused persons pleaded not guilty.

Counsel to EFCC, Cosmos Ugwu, then asked the court to remand the accused persons in prison custody and fix a date for the commencement of trial.

However, counsel to the third accused person, Ali Abah, said he had filed a bail application on behalf of his client.

The same argument was canvassed by counsel to the 1st and 2nd accused persons.

However, Adah refused to hear the bail application.

He ordered that the accused persons be remanded in Kirikiri Prison and adjourned the case to January 30 when the bail application is expected to be heard.

The journey to prison began for the trio on March 19, 2010 when Filip Disanza sent a petition to the Commission.

The petitioner alleged that he had been defrauded of some amount of money by some Nigerian fraudsters who deceptively represented themselves as Barristers David Makos and Olu Shola and also pretended to be gold merchants.

He said at different times he was made to travel to Ghana where he met with the fraudsters and paid over $500,000 into their nominated accounts in Nigeria and Ghana.

Ovie, who lives in Sapele, Delta State dropped out of Okotie-Eboh Secondary School in Senior Secondary 3 due to financial problems to take up brick layering as a vocation.

He later went to Ghana where he perfected his criminal habit before returning to Nigeria.

Udugba Benson was born in 1971 at Ughelli.

He attended Ogbe Primary School Benin City, Edo State.

He dropped out in Primary Five to learn furniture making.

For Richard Boyo, 36, he was born in Warri, Delta State and attended Orphpele Primary School , Sapele, Government Secondary School , Wuse, Abuja and Edo State University, Ekpoma.

Part of what Saturday Ovie did to convince the unsuspecting German was to forge Ghana Bar Association Certificate of practice with serial No. GBA369329 purportedly signed by the Ghana Bar Association Chairman, with an identity card photographed in the name of David Makos (Esq.).

Part of the charge against the accused persons read:

Count 1

That you Saturday Ovie (aka David Makos, Olu Shola, Dr. Segun Obasanjo) Udugba Benson, Boyo Oritsetimiyn and Ovisco Link Nigeria Limited on or about the 19th of Nov. 2011 at Lagos within the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court conspired to commit an offence to wit, obtaining money under false pretences from one Filip Disanza a German national and thereby committed an offence punishable under sections 1(3) and 8 of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act. 2006

Count 2

That you Saturday Ovie (aka David Makos, Olu Shola, Dr. Segun Obasanjo) and Ovisco-Link Nig Ltd between 2nd Oct 2009 and 9th Dec. 2009 at Ogharefe within the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court fraudulently obtained the sum of $59,660 (Fifty nine thousand six hundred and sixty USD) from one Filip Disanza, a German national under the false pretence that the amount was payment for gold which pretence you  knew to be false and thereby committed an offence punishable under Sections 1(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offence Act, 2006.