Dwelleth Morountodun
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ilorin Zonal office on Thursday, arraigned 36- year-old Joseph Oyediran,
one of the cybercrime suspects wanted by the United States (U.S), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), before Justice Mahmood Abdulgafar of a Kwara State High Court sitting in Ilorin on a five count charge bordering on internet fraud and other fraud and obtaining money under false pretence.
Count two of the charge reads, “That you, Oyediran aka (Joe MG, Morris Graves), sometime in May 2015, within the jurisdiction of this Court, with intent to defraud obtained the sum of N1, 421,968.00 from one Andrea Smith, a white American woman on the false pretence that you were Joe MG, a white American man in love with her, a representation you knew to be false and punishable under section 1(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act No.14 of 2006”
Oyediran, however pleaded not guilty to all the charges leveled against him by the anti graft agency.
In view of the defendant’s plea of not guilty, prosecuting counsel, Sessan Ola asked for a trial date to enable the prosecution prove its case. “We also pray your Lordship to remand the defendant in prison custody pending the hearing and determination of this matter”, he stated.
The EFCC Spokesperson, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, said ruling on the submission, Justice Abdulgafar ordered that the defendant be remanded in Mandala prison and adjourned the case to October 9, for commencement of trial.