By Onyewuchi Ojinnaka
A suspect, one Mr Benjamin Opah, has been arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on a seven-count charge of possession of fraudulent documents and impersonation.
Benjamin Opah, alias General Richard Roland, was docked before the Special Offences Court Ikeja, Lagos presided over by Justice Sherifat Solebo.
Reading the statement of offence to him by the court registrar, the defendant was alleged to have on or about the 28th day of May, 2019, in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of the Honourable Court, with intent to defraud, had in his possession various documents titled “My Format”, “FM Money”, “FMT Story”, and other documents where he represented himself as General Richard Roland of the American Army, which representations he knew or ought to have known to be false.
The defendant also allegedly impersonated himself in various fraudulent documents to be Major General Almeida of the American Army, Major General Davis Lucas of the American Army and Major General Philip Johnson of the American Army.
According to the charge, the offence committed by Benjamin Opah is contrary to Section 6, (8) (b) and 1(3)(d) of the Advance Fee Fraud And Other Related Offences Act No 14 of 2006.
After listening to the seven-counts charge preferred against him, the defendant pleaded not guilty to all the counts.
Consequently, the prosecutor from the EFCC, Mr G.C. Akaogu asked the court to fix a date for commencement of trial of the defendant in view of his non guilty plea.
He further asked the court to remand the defendant in prison custody.
In her submission, counsel to the defendant inforned the court that she was yet to file application for bail, urging the court to allow him stay in EFCC custody.
In a short ruling, Justice Solebo ordered the defendant to be remanded in prison pending his application for bail and release.
The case was then adjourned till October 17, 2019 at 10.00am.
