EXTRA: EFCC arraigns man for ‘impersonating Afghanistan soldier to obtain $1,000’

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned one David Ikeaghichi for allegedly impersonating an Afghanistan soldier to commit internet fraud.

Ikeaghichi was arraigned on Thursday before S. D. Pam of the federal high court in Port Harcourt, Rivers state capital, on a two-count charge bordering on obtaining money under false pretense.

The charges contravened section 1 (1)(a & b) of the advance fee fraud related offences Act, 2006.

“That you David Ikeaghichi on or about the 31st day of October, 2023 in Port Harcourt within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court with intent to defraud, impersonated one military personnel from Afghanistan and obtained the sum of One Thousand United States of America Dollars ($1000) worth of gift card from one Dennis from Singapore, by falsely representing it to be for investment purposes, which pretence you knew to be false and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1(1) (a & b) and punishable under Section 1 (3) of the Advance Fee Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006,” part of the charge sheet reads.

The suspect pleaded not guilty to the two-count charge.

K. Abdulsalam, counsel to the EFCC, prayed the court to remand the defendant in the correctional centre and fix a date for trial.

Wilfred Ayerit, the defence counsel said, bail the application for the defendant was ready.

The judge adjourned the matter to April 24 for the hearing of the bail application and commencement of trial.

He also ordered that the defendant be remanded in Port Harcourt Correctional Centre.

In a statement on Friday, Dele Oyewale, EFCC spokesperson, said Ikeaghichi specialised in impersonation, investment and dating scams.

“In one of the instances, he falsely presented himself to his victim on Instagram, one Denis from Singapore as an Afghan military officer,” Oyewale said.

“Following up with other pretences, he obtained a gift card worth $1000 from Denis.

“Further investigations showed that the convict sold the $1000 gift card in local currency via an online Chinese vendor.”