EFCC arraigns youngster, accomplice for duping American’s $40 million [Photos]

Two fraudsters
Tobechukwu Igbokwe (Alias David Prince)and
his accomplice Ifeanyi Obi who are alleged to
have duped an America of $40million are to
remain in prison until December 3, 2013.
Justice Lawal Akapo of the Lagos State High,
Ikeja on Monday October 28, 2013 remanded
the duo in prison custody after they were
arraigned by the Economic and Financial
Crimes Commission on a 12- count charge
bordering on forgery, conspiracy and
obtaining money by false pretences contrary to
section 8(a) and 1(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud
and Other Fraud Related Offences Act No 14 of
2006.
Specifically, Igbokwe, 19 year-old secondary
school leaver, was alleged to have severally
duped his victims, many of them foreigners of
huge amounts of money through the internet
under fraudulent guises. He allegedly worked in
concert with Obi to dupe an American, Micheal
Silva of $40 million in an inheritance scam.
Silva was made to believe that Igbokwe and his
accomplice had a huge inheritance which they
wanted to move to a foreign account for safe-
keeping.
The victim was asked to send money to
“process” the transfer and in the process, he
wired $40m in several installments through
Western Union Transfer to Igbokwe and Obi.
Igbokwe also confessed that he had duped
other foreigners among them a Tommy
Bedwell- who lost $6,000 to him and Richard
Hunt-$15,000.
One of the charges against Igbokwe and Obi
reads: “Tobechukwu Igbokwe (alias David
Prince) (alias John Emma) sometimes in the
month of October 2011 at Lagos within the
Ikeja Judicial Division with intent to defraud
obtained $800 (Eight Hundreds Dollars),
$700(Seven Hundred Dollars), $200(Two
Hundred Dollars) $400(Four Hundred Dollars),
$200(Two Hundred Dollars), $300(Three
Hundred Dollars), $500(Five Hundred Dollars),
$500(Five Hundered Dollars) $500(Five
Hundred Dollars) $200(Two Hundred Dollars);
totalling $5,500 (Five Thousand Five Hundred
Dollars) which sum you obtained separately
from Michael Silva of the United States of
America under false pretence that the money
represent part payment for processing
inheritance funds due to him as a beneficiary
of the fund and which pretence you knew was
false”.
When the charges were read to them, the
defendants pleaded not guilty.
EFCC counsel, Fadeke Giwa prayed the court
for a trial date and to remanded the accused
persons in prison custody.
However, counsel to the first defendant, D. A
Omougbai asked for a short date to file his
bail application. Also, counsel to the second
defendant, D. A Eimuejel prayed the court to
accept the bail application he filed on behalf
of his client.
Justice Akapo, however, adjourned the matter
till December 3, 2013 and ordered that the
defendants be remanded in Kirikiri Maximum
Prison, Lagos.