The Benin zonal command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned two suspects for allegedly impersonating Anthony Joshua, the British-Nigerian boxer.
Wilson Uwujaren, the EFCC spokesman, in a statement today, said the suspects named Ukhuriegbe Glory Irekpitan and Onyekwa Joshua Chinedum were arraigned yesterday before the federal high court in Benin, Edo.
The duo were arraigned on a two-count charge each of impersonation. They were also alleged to have impersonated the boxer to defraud two ladies of the sums of £10,000 and £5,491,23 in London.
One of the counts against Joshua read: “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 offense punishable under section 14 (2) of the Cybercrime (Prohibition Prevention, Etc) Act 2015”.
For Irekpitan, one of the charges read: “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, an equivalent of N2,306,220 and thereby committed an offense punishable under Section 14(2) of the Cybercrime (Prohibition Prevention, Etc) Act 2015.”
The defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges against them. This prompted I.M. Elody, the prosecution counsel, to ask for a trial date and for the defendants to be remanded in the custody of the correctional service.
The counsel to the defendants pleaded with the court to remand the suspects in EFCC custody, a move that was opposed by the EFCC counsel.
Shuaibu, the presiding judge, ordered that the defendants be remanded at the Nigerian Correctional Centre in Benin.
He thereafter adjourned the case till October 21.