One of the Fake Interpol, Oghenekaro Ekewenu, When He Was Docked At Federal High Court, Ikoyi
3 Fake Interpol Officers Face Trial Over Alleged $954, 960 Fraud
A three-man fraud syndicate, who allegedly defrauded their victims of the sum of $954,960 USD, with the claim of being officers of International Police Officer (Interpol) are currently facing trial before an Ikeja High Court of Lagos State, on charges of conspiracy, stealing, obtaining by false pretence and fraud.
The alleged fake Interpol officials are: Oghenekaro Ekewenu a.k.a Sam Bronson, Ruth Isimihmin and Hakeem Baruwa.
They are being tried on a 12 count-charge by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), before the court presided over by Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo, who recently retired from the Bench recently.
One of the defendant, Oghenekaro is currently standing trial on another charges of alleged fraud and issuance of dud cheques, preferred against him by the men of Police Special Fraud Unit (PSFU), Ikoyi, before a Lagos Federal High Court.
But the EFCC In the charges against the defendants, before Ikeja Court, alleged that they committed the offences in 2014.
The anti-graft agency in the charge marked LD/14377c/2021, before retired Justice Taiwo, alleged that the three defendants succeeded in defrauding their victims, who are were mainly Americans, by claiming to be Interpol Officers, working for the government America government.
Among those allegedly defrauded includes: Brent R. Hall; Richard Maxwell; Ralph Thompson; Patrick D. Franklin; David L. Garman; Alesia G Toliver; Patrick D. Franklin and one Mrs. Theresa.
The defendants were said to have committed the alleged wire fraud with one Henry Aghedo, said to be at large.
The alleged fraudulenty acts of the defendants, was made opened, when Skye Bank now Polaris Bank, wrote a petition dated March 7, 2016, to the EFCC, stating that the defendants led by one Sam Bronson (Oghenekaro Ekewenu) were sending Scam mail through internet to unsuspected victims using Skye Bank account.
In the petition, the said Sam Bronson, was alleged to have presents himself to his victims as a staff of INTERPOL and informed victims to pay some dollars as taxes in order for them to get their trust fund.
The EFCC prosecutor, Joy J. Amahian, had told the court that the offences committed by the three defendants, contravened sections 411 and 285(1) and punishable sections 278 (b) and 287 (5) & (9) of the Criminal Law of Lagos state, 2015.
The prosecutor also said the offences are contrary to Sections 1 (3); 1 (1)(2) and 1 (3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and other Fraud related Offences Act No. 14 of 2006.
New date has not been fixed for further trial of all the defendants, has their case file is yet to be assigned to another judge.
