NAN Photo: Fake Femi AdesinaA man who allegedly posed as Femi Adesina, special adviser to President Muhammadu Buhari on media and publicity, with intent to defraud a university professor in Kano, by name Christian Efe Oyovweyho, is facing the law in court.
The alleged impostor, who has been charged before Justice Z.B Abubakar of the Federal High Court Kano by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) today, Thursday, is facing a two count charge of Obtaining by False Pretence.
The accused allegedly presented himself to a professor of Economics at Bayero University Kano, Dalhatu Mohammed Galadanci with an intent to obtain N300,000 from him under the guise of being Femi Adesina.
According to EFCC, sometime in July 2016, the accused sent him a text message claiming to be Femi Adesina, S.A to the president on Media and Publicity. The accused was said to have fraudulently claimed to be speaking on behalf of the president and that the name of the professor has been forwarded for appointment in the presidency.
The EFCC said that the accused further claimed to be searching for a better office for him. Subsequently, the defendant asked the professor to make payment of the sum of N300,000 to facilitate his appointment to Nigeria Port Authority or Nigerian Railway Cooperation and Rural Electrification.
At that point, the professor got suspicious and reported the matter to the commission.
One of the counts read: “ You Christian Efe Oyovweyho alias Femi Adesina and another (now at large) on or about 16th day of July, 2016 at Kano, within the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court Kano with intent to defraud attempted to obtain the sum of N300,000 (Three Hundred Thousand Naira Only) from Professor Dalhatu Mohammed Galadanci through your Zenith Bank Account with Account number: 2173729401, under the false pretence that the money was meant for a juicy appointment in Abuja , which pretence you knew to be false and thereby committed an offense contrary to section 8 (b) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006 and punishable under section 1 (3) of the same Act.”
After listening to the charge, the accused person pleaded not guilty.
Prosecution counsel, Musa Isah requested a date for trial in view of the plea of the accused.
Counsel representing the accused, T.M Oyedema however brought a motion for bail, praying the court to admit his client to bail pending the hearing and determination of the case.
Justice Zainab granted the accused bail in the sum of N500,000 and two sureties in like sum.
One of the sureties must be a State or Federal government official not below grade level 8.
The other surety must be a respected member of the society with a landed property within the jurisdiction. Also certificate of Occupancy in respect of the landed property shall be deposited with the Deputy Chief Registrar of the court.
The case has been adjourned to 11 April, 2017 for commencement of trial, while the accused person remains in prison custody pending the perfection of his bail conditions.
NAN. [myad]
