A final year student of Computer and Statistics at the
University of Benin (UNIBEN) Kenneth Rukewe Ebule, has been arraigned
before an Edo State High Court in Benin-city over Internet scam by the Economic
and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), reports
ITRealms.
Head, Media and Publicity at EFCC, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren confirmed
this in a press statement sighted by
ITRealms,
saying that Ebule was arraigned Thursday, October 30, 2014 before Justice
E. F Ikponmwen of an Edo State High Court, sitting
in Benin-City on a 6-count charge bordering on Internet-related
scam including forgery, obtaining money by false pretence and possession of
fraudulent documents.
ITRealms also gathered
that the accused person allegedly duped Sabine Albert, a German, of the sum of
$12,088.75 (Twelve Thousand Eighty Eight Dollars and Seventy Five Cents)
through fraudulent claims.
Rukewe, 30, was arrested by officials of a new generation bank on May
28, 2014 in Benin City and handed over to the EFCC for further investigation.
Troubles started for him when Albert alleged that within two months after he
had internet contact with him, Rukewe fraudulently obtained the sum of
$12,088,75 (Twelve Thousand Eighty Eight Dollars and Seventy Five Cents) from
him.
Rukewe allegedly posed to Albert as an English businessman on transit in
Nigeria. He gave his name as Bob Albert and told his victim that he had a
contract with a Nigerian company worth €1.200, 000.00 and that he needed
a loan to facilitate a transaction with the company. He promised to
pay back the loan and even doubled it because he was sure of pulling through
the transactions. He also told Albert that he had complications and
suffered a robbery attack.
Rukewe also falsely told Albert that, a levy of of N1,975,861 (One
Million, Nine Hundred and Seventy Five Thousand, Eight Hundred and Sixty One
Naira only) was imposed on him by the Federal Inland Revenue Service for the
release of his International Passport, and a cheque worth 1, 200,000
Euros. He also pleaded for a flight ticket to London.
Based on all these, Albert offered to loan him the money by sending it through
Western Union, only to discover that he had been scammed.
Investigation also revealed that the suspect had defrauded other German
nationals to the tune of $110,975.00USD (One Hundred and Ten thousand,
Nine Hundred and Seventy Five United States Dollars) between May 2013 and
January 2014.
When the charges were read to the defendant, he pleaded not guilty.
One of the charges read in part:
“Ebule Kenneth Rukewe (a.k.a. Bob Albert), on or about the 17th day of July,
2013 within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, with Intent to defraud,
obtained the sum of $12,088,75 (Twelve Thousand Eighty Eight Dollars and
Seventy Five Cents) from Sabine Albert (a German National), under the false
pretence that the money represented part payment of N1,975,861 (One Million
Nine Hundred and Seventy Kobo) levy imposed one Bobby Albert (a British
citizen) by Federal Inland Revenue Service for the release of the International
Passport, Cheque worth 1,200,000 Euros and flight ticket to London of the said
Bobby Albert, which representation you knew to be false”.
In view of the plea of the defendant, prosecution counsel, Kayode Oni
asked for a trial date and prayed the court to remand the defendant in prison
custody. The defence counsel, Maureen Morka informed the court of her
application for bail dated September 9, 2014 and prayed the court to grant the
defendant bail.
Justice Ikponmwen granted the defendant bail in the sum of One Million Naira
and two sureties in like sum. The sureties must be resident in Benin City
and must be gainfully employed in Edo State. The defendant must also produce
his student identity card.
Justice Ikponmwen subsequently adjourned the case to November 21,
2014 for hearing and ordered that the defendant be remanded in prison
custody pending the perfection of his bail.
+Remmy Nweke (ITRealms) +Efcc Ibrahim Lamorde +EFCC MEDIA +Naija AgroNet @DigitalSENSEng @InternetScam #Nigeria
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Pix: Suspected Kenneth Ebule as supplied by EFCC
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