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A Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos State, on Friday remanded nine suspected internet fraudsters in Ado-Ekiti prison pending the hearing of criminal charges filed against them.
Justice Nicholas Oweibo, the presiding judge and designated vacation judge for the Federal High Court in the South West, gave the order when the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibadan zonal office, arraigned the suspects before the court.
The names of the suspects were given as Jejelowo Blessing, Charles Ilesanmi Omobolade, Adelanke Adesola Abiodun, Jejelowo Samson Olanrewaju and Quadri Adewale Ayuba.
Others are Raphael Sunday, Omoniyi Ifeoluwa Ajayi, Adebola Kazeem Adeyemi and Adeyeye Rasheed.
They were charged for sundry internet- related offences, including obtaining money by false pretence, impersonation and being in possession of forged and fraudulent documents to defraud unsuspecting foreigners by the commission.
The accused persons were arrested during a raid carried out by EFCC operatives in Ado Ekiti on July 8, 2019.
They pleaded not guilty when the charges were read to them.
Consequent upon the not guilty plea, the commission’s legal team led by Dr. Ben Ubi, prayed the count for trial dates and an order to remand the suspects in Ado Ekiti prison.
The court granted the remand prayer and also fixed two different dates for the commencement of trial.
Justice Oweibo fixed September 23, for the trial of Jejelowo Blessing, Charles Ilesanmi Omobolade and Adelanke Adesola Abiodun and fixed September 25 for the trial of Jejelowo Samson Olanrewaju, Quadri Adewale Ayuba, Rapheal Sunday, Omoniyi Ifeoluwa Ajayi, Adebola Kazeem Adeyemi and Adeyeye Rasheed.