The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Benin Zonal Command, has on Monday arraigned Ukhuriegbe Glory Irekpitan and Onyekwa Joshua Chinedum in court for allegedly impersonating British-Nigerian boxer, Anthony Joshua.
The duo was arraigned before Justice S. M. Shuaibu of the Federal High Court sitting in Benin, Edo State on two count charge each of impersonation.
The defendants are alleged to have defrauded two ladies of the sums of £10,000 and £5,491,23 in London.
One of the counts 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.”
One of the charges against Ukhuriegbe Glory Irekpitan 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.”
According to a statement by the anti-graft agency, “The defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges preferred against them prompting the prosecution counsel, I.M. Elody to ask for a trial date and for the defendants to be remanded in the custody of the Correctional Service. However, counsel to the defendants pleaded with the court to remand them in EFCC custody, a move that was opposed by the EFCC counsel.
“Justice Shuaibu adjourned the matter till October 21, 2021, and ordered that the defendants be remanded at the Nigerian Correctional Centre in Benin City.”
