Akin Kuponiyi
A Federal high court sitting in Ikoyi Lagos south west Nigeria has further adjourned till 6th of February, 2019 for the trial of two men Uche Anyawu a. k. a Musa Mohammed, 48 and Kenneth Chukwudi Ezeonue a. k. a. Abdul Karim, 45, alleged to have impersonated President Mohammed Buhari and his wife Aisha to swindled some people to the tune of $20.5million by using forged e-mail.
The trial of the two accused men are to start afresh, as the presiding judge Babs Kiewumi has been transferred to another division of the Federal high court.
Force Criminal Investigation and Intelligent Department of the Nigerian Police Force Alagbon Ikoyi Lagos South West Nigeria had on19th ofNovember last year arraigned before the court the three cyber crime suspects alleged to have swindled some people to the tune of $20.5million (equivalent of N7.44billion) by using forged e-mail and impersonating the President of Federal Republic of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari GCFR and his wife Aisha Buhari.
The Commissioner of Police in charge of Anti Fraud unit of Force Criminal Investigation and Intelligent Department, Commissioner of Police Dan Okoro leading a team of detectives while investigating some suspected Cyber crime suspects and on the trail of some runaway suspects who are at large bust into the syndicate the members spread across the globe.
Meanwhile Mr Okoro and his team are currently on the trail of the accomplices of the accused persons.
In sixteen count criminal charge number FHC/C/392C/2018 signed and filed before the court by Assistant commissioner of Police Mr Benson Asogwa, the three accused persons were charged with offences stated below:
COUNT 1:
That you Uche Anyanwu Julius “m”aka “Musa Mohammed” and others at
large on August 8, 2018 at No. 10 Hassan Idowu Street Aguda Surulere,
Lagos within the Lagos judicial division of this Honourabl Court
with intent to defraud did send forged electronic messages to one
Engr. Gmemnzes, Attention: Geraldo Francisco Menezes purpoting same to
have been sent by her Excellency, Mrs. Aisha Buhari, the First Lady
and wife of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His
Excellency, President Muhammed, Buhari GCFR, in respect of IMMEDIATE
PAYMENT OF NOTIFICATION OF $20, 500,000.00 (Twenty Million, Five
Hundred Thousand US Dollar) equivalent of #7.44,000,000.00 (Seven
Billion, Forty Four Million Naira) and thereby committed an offense
punishable under section 14(3) of the cybercrimes (prohibition,
prevention, ETC) Act, 2015.
COUNT 2:
That you Uche Anyanwu Julius ‘m’ aka “Musa Mohammed” and others at
large on September 13, 2017 at the aforesaid place and judicial
Division did send forged electronic messages to one Roy Tailor,
Attention: All Genuine Funds Owners purporting same to have been sent
by Her Excellency, Mrs. Aisha Buhari, the First Lady and wife of the
President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Muhammed
Buhari GCFR, has requested to be contacted directly for the
release of an undisclosed outstanding/pending payment , among others
and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 14(3) of the
cybercrimes (Prohibition, prevention, ETC) Act, 2015.
COUNT 3:
That you Uche Anyanwu Julius ‘m’ aka “Musa Mohammed” and others at
large on November 15, 2017 at the aforesaid place and judicial Division
did send forged electronic messages to one Madaulc, Attention: Dr.
Guenter Schauer purporting same to have been sent by Her Excellency,
Mrs. Aisha Buhari, the First Lady and wife of the President of the
Federal Republic of Nigeria , His Excellency, President Muhammad
Buhari GCFR requesting for a special arrangement to send you
unspecified funds by direct cash payment through ECOWAS Headquarters
in Cotonu, among others and thereby committed an offence punishable
under Section 14(3) of the cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, ETC)
Act, 2015.
COUNT 4:
That you Uche Anyanwu Julius ‘m’ aka Musa Mohammed” and others at
large on May 11, 2018 at the foresaid place and judicial Division did
send forged electronic messages to one Ubsrlongo, Attention: Romana
Longo purporting same to have been sent by Her Excellency, Mrs. Aisha
Buhari, the First Lady and wife of the President of the Federal
Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency, President Muhhammad Buhari GCFR,
referring to an arrangement between US department of Treasury Direct
Account and President Muhammad Buhari GCFR, relating to the
formalization and revocation of the united states financial
impropriety, among others and thereby committed an offence punishable
under section 14(3) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, ETC)
Act 2015.
COUNT 5
That you Uche Anyanwu Julius ‘m’ aka Musa Mohammed” and others at
large on August 4, 2015 at the aforesaid place and judicial Division
did send forged electronic messages to “UBA BANK” purporting same to
have been sent by Her Excellency, Mrs. Aisha Buhari, the First Lady
and wife of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria His
Excellency, President Muhammad Buhari GCFR, relating to IMMEDIATE
PAYMENT NOTIFICATION Valued at $20.500,000 (Twenty Million, Five
Hundred Thousand US Dollar) among others and thereby committed an
offence punishable under section 14(3) of the Cybercrimes
(Prohibition, Prevention, ETC) Act, 2015.
COUNT 6
That you Uche Anyanwu Julius ‘m’ aka Musa Mohammed” and others at
large on August 8, 2018 at the aforesaid place and judicial Division
did send forged electronic messages to one Wiedmantom, Attention:
Wiedman Tom purporting same to have been sent by Her Excellency,
Mrs. Aisha Buhari, the First Lady and wife of the President of the
Federal Republic of Nigeria,His Excellency, President Muhammad Buhari
GCFR, relating to guarantee for certain undisclosed payment, among
others and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 14(3)
of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, ETC) Act, 2015.
COUNT 7
That you Uche Anyanwu Julius ‘m’ aka Musa Mohammed” and others at
large on June 10, 2018 at the aforesaid place and judicial Division
did send forged electronic messages to one Werner Muller, purporting
same to have been sent by Her Excellency, Mrs. Aisha Buhari, the
First Lady and wife of the President of the Federal Republic of
Nigeria, His Excellency, President Muhammad Buhari GCFR, relating to a
payment captioned “ADVANCE PAYMENTS ARE NOT POSSSIBLE FOR ME!!”, among
others and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 14(3)
of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, ETC) Act, 2015.
COUNT 8
That you Uche Anyanwu Julius ‘m’ aka Musa Mohammed” and others at
large on September 13, 2017 at the aforesaid place and judicial
Division did send forged electronic messages to one Roy Tailor,
Attention: All Genuine Funds Owners purporting same to have been sent
by Her Excellency, Mrs. Aisha Buhari, the First Lady and wife of the
President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency, President
Muhammad Buhari GCFR, relating to a notice from Office of the
Presidency, among others and thereby committed an offence punishable
under section 14(3) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, ETC)
Act, 2015.
COUNT 9
That you Uche Anyanwu Julius ‘m’ aka Musa Mohammed” and others at
large between August 8, 2018 and June , 2018 at the aforesaid place
and judicial Division did impersonate to be Her Excellency, Mrs.
Aisha Buhari, the First Lady and wife of the President of the Federal
Republic of Nigeria His Excellency, President Muhammad Buhari GCFR, by
sending the aforesaid electronic messages to the aforesaid persons in
her name and with intent to gain advantage to yourself and did
fraudulently obtain $20.5 billion USD equivalent of #7.44 Billion
Naira from one Mr. William Carrol Shute, and thereby committed an
offence punishable under section 22(2)(b) of the cybercrimes
(Prohibition, Prevention, ETC) Act, 2015.
COUNT 10
That you Uche Anyanwu Julius ‘m’ aka Musa Mohammed” and others at
large between August 8, 2018 and June , 2018 at the aforesaid place
and judicial Division did impersonate to be Her Excellency, Mrs.
Aisha Buhari, the First Lady and wife of the President of the Federal
Republic of Nigeria His Excellency, President Muhammad Buhari GCFR, by
sending the aforesaid electronic messages to the aforesaid persons in
her name and with intent to gain advantage to yourself and thereby
committed an offence punishable under section 22(2)(b) of the
cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, ETC) Act, 2015.
COUNT 11
That you Keneth Chikwado Ezeomu ‘m’ aka “Abdul Karim” on Spetember 22,
2018 at No. 4a, Alhaji Kayode Street, Aguda Surulere, Lagos at the
aforesaid Judicial Division did send forged electronic messages to one
mohammed Satti relating to the nomination of the said Mohammed Satti
as the beneficiary of $14,800,000.00 USD which you knew to be false
and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 14(3) of the
cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, ETC) Act, 2015.
COUNT 12
That you Keneth Chikwado Ezeomu ‘m’ aka “Abdul Karim” on September 22,
2018 at the aforesaid Judicial Division did send forged electronic
messages to one Edna relating to her nomination by Byrant Scot to
receive funds as a beneficiary, a representation you knew to be false
but did so with a view to extorting money from the said Edna and
thereby committed an offence punishable under section 14(3) of the
cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, ETC) Act, 2015.
COUNT 13
That you Keneth Chikwado Ezeonu ‘m’ aka “Abdul Karim” on Spetember 22,
2018 at the aforesaid Judicial Division did send forged electronic
messages to one Edna Samson relating to her nomination by Byrant Scot
to receive a consignment, a representation you knew to be false and
thereby committed an offence punishable under section 14(3) of the
cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, ETC) Act, 2015.
COUNT 14
That you Keneth Chikwado Ezeonu ‘m’ aka “Abdul Karim” on September 30,
2018 at the aforesaid Judicial Division did send forged electronic
messages to one Hyun Kim of South Korea relating to be loan of
$10,000.00 (Ten Thousand US Dollar) from Citi Bank Dubai, UAE with a
view to stealing the said sum from him and thereby committed an
offence punishable under section 14(3) of the cybercrimes
(Prohibition, Prevention, ETC) Act, 2015.
COUNT 15
That you Agu Ifeanyi George ‘m’ aka “Dr. Lina Norman” on October 1,
2018 at No 4a, Alhaji Kayode Close, Aguda Surulere, Lagos at the
aforesaid Juidicial Division did send forged electronic messages to
one Grezegorz Siewierski relating to you being in a Refugee Camp due
to a battle that forced you and your kids to the Camp, a
representation you knew to be false but did with intent to stealing US
$15,500.000.00 (Fifteen Million, Five Hundred Thousand Dollar) from
him and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 14(3) of
the cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, ETC) Act, 2015.
COUNT 16
That you Agu Ifeanyi George ‘m’ aka “Dr. Lina Norman” on September 26,
2018 at the aforesaid Judicial Division did send forged electronic
messages to one M.J Gabela where you claimed to be one Dr. Lina
Norman, a medical practitioner from Damsacus, Syria, seeking for
assistance to help you and your two daughters relocate to Syria, a
representation you knew to be false but did so with intent to stealing
some funds from him and thereby committed an offence punishable under
section 14(3) of the cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, ETC) Act,
2015.
The accused persons who were not represented by any lawyer pleaded not guilty to all the charges.