EVEN as the government is pardoning multibillion naira profligates in Nigeria, petty fraudsters continue to be hauled before the law by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, who on Monday arraigned two men, Patrick Ezeji and Ugo Okpara, for allegedly defrauding a Canadian woman of 25,138 US dollars (N3.9 million).
Ezeji (25) and Okpara (29) were charged before Justice Olabisi Akinlade of an Ikeja High Court on 19 counts of conspiracy and obtaining money by false pretences.
Ezeji, who resides at No. 2, Alatunse St., Odogunyan, Ikorodu and Okpara, who is resident at No. 22, Lateef Sanni St., Ijeshatedo, Surulere, Lagos, connived to defraud Canadian Sheila Griffiths of the said sum.
EFCC counsel, Mr Kayode Oni, alleged that the defendants had, between July 2010 and April 2012, fraudulently obtained the money from Griffiths.
Oni said that Griffiths had met the defendants through Facebook, a social networking site in December 1999.
The prosecutor alleged that the defendants obtained the money from the Canadian, claiming that it would be used to facilitate a joint project between them.
He said after obtaining the money in various transactions, the defendants disappeared into thin air.
According to him, the woman eventually came to Nigeria and lodged a report with the EFCC which consequently led to the arrest of the defendants.
Oni said their alleged offences contravened Sections 1(3) and 8 of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act of 2006.
The defendants, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The judge ordered that they be remanded in Kirikiri Maximum Security Prisons, pending the filing of their bail applications.
She adjourned the matter to May 16, for trial.