The Benin Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC), on Monday, arraigned in court, two (2) suspected fraudsters, Ukhuriegbe Glory Irekpitan and Onyekwa Joshua Chinedum, for allegedly impersonating Anthony Joshua, the British-Nigerian boxer.
Ukhuriegbe Glory Irekpitan and Onyekwa Joshua Chinedum, were arraigned before the Federal High Court, in the Edo State capital, Benin; presided over by Justice S. M. Shuaibu, on a two (2) count charge each, bothering on impersonation.
The two alleged fraudsters, were said to have defrauded two ladies in London, of the sums of £10,000 and £5,491,23.
One of the charges against Onyekwe Joshua Chinedum reads,
“That you Onyekwe Joshua Chinedum, (a.k.a Anthony Joshua), sometime in 2019, did with intent to defraud, sent electronic messages which materially misrepresent facts to Samantha Johnson, a lady in London which messages she relied upon and which made her suffer financial loss in the sum of £10,000 thereby committing an offence punishable under section 14 (2) of the Cybercrime (Prohibition Prevention, Etc) Act 2015.”
For Ukhuriegbe Glory Irekpitan, part of his charges reads,
“That you Ukhuriegbe Glory Irekpitan sometime in 2018 did with intent to defraud sent electronic messages which materially misrepresent facts to Mrs Zahra Bagun, a lady in London which messages she relied on and which caused her to suffer the financial loss in the sum of £5,491.23 pounds, the equivalent of N2,306,220 and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 14(2) of the Cybercrime (Prohibition Prevention, Etc) Act 2015.”
The duo of Ukhuriegbe Glory Irekpitan and Onyekwa Joshua Chinedum, pleaded not guilty to the charges. They have been remanded in the custody of the Nigerian Correctional Service in Benin.
Justice Shuaibu has adjourned the case till October 21, 2021.