By Onyewuchi Ojinnaka
The Anti-Fraud Unit of the Federal Criminal Investigations and Intelligence Department (FCIID) of the Nigeria Police Force, Alagbon Ikoyi, Lagos Nigeria on Monday docked three cyber crime suspects before a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos.
The suspects, Uche Anyanwu Julius a.k.a Musa Mohammed (48 years), Kenneth Chukwudi Ezeonu a.k.a Abdul Karim (45 years) and Agu Ifeanyi George a.k.a Dr Lina Norman (48) years were alleged to have swindled some people to the tune of 20.5 million US Dollars, equivalent of N7.44 billion, by using forged e-mail and impersonating the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria Muhammadu Buhari (GCFR) and his wife Aisha Buhari.
The Commissioner of Police in charge of Anti Fraud Unit, Force Criminal Intelligence and Investigations Department, Mr Dan Okoro, while leading team of detectives investigating some suspected Cyber crime suspects and on the trail of some runaway suspects who are at large, busted the syndicate with members spread across the globe.
Meanwhile Mr Okoro and his team are currently on the trail of the accomplices of the accused persons.
The cyber-crime suspects were arraigned before Justice Babs Kuewumi.
In some of the 16-count criminal charge number FHC/C/392C/2018 signed and filed before the court by Assistant Commissioner of Police Mr Benson Asogwa, the three accused persons were charged with offences stated as follow:
“That you Uche Anyanwu Julius “m”aka “Musa Mohammed” and others at large on August 8, 2018 at No. 10 Hassan Idowu Street Aguda Surulere,Lagos within the Lagos judicial division of this Honourabl Court with intent to defraud, did send forged electronic messages to one Engr. Gmemnzes, Attention: Geraldo Francisco Menezes purporting same to have been sent by her Excellency, Mrs. Aisha Buhari, the First Lady and wife of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency, President Muhammadu Buhari (GCFR), in respect of IMMEDIATE PAYMENT OF NOTIFICATION OF $20, 500,000.00 (Twenty Million, Five Hundred Thousand US Dollar) equivalent of N7.44,000,000.00 (Seven Billion, Forty Four Million Naira) and thereby committed an offense punishable under Section 14(3) of the cybercrimes (prohibition,prevention, ETC) Act, 2015.
“That you Uche Anyanwu Julius ‘m’ aka “Musa Mohammed” and others at large on September 13, 2017 at the aforesaid place and judicial division did send forged electronic messages to one Roy Tailor, Attention: All Genuine Funds Owners; purporting same to have been sent by Her Excellency, Mrs. Aisha Buhari, the First Lady and wife of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Muhammadu Buhari (GCFR), requesting to be contacted directly for the release of an undisclosed outstanding/pending payment , among others and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 14(3) of the
cybercrimes (Prohibition, prevention, ETC) Act, 2015.
“That you Uche Anyanwu Julius ‘m’ aka “Musa Mohammed” and others at large on November 15, 2017 at the aforesaid place and judicial division did send forged electronic messages to one Madaulc, Attention: Dr. Guenter Schauer purporting same to have been sent by Her Excellency, Mrs. Aisha Buhari, the First Lady and wife of the President of the
Federal Republic of Nigeria , His Excellency, President Muhammadu Buhari (GCFR) requesting for a special arrangement to send you unspecified funds by direct cash payment through ECOWAS Headquarters in Cotonu, among others and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 14(3) of the cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, ETC)
Act, 2015.
“That you Uche Anyanwu Julius ‘m’ aka Musa Mohammed” and others at large on May 11, 2018 at the foresaid place and judicial Division didsend forged electronic messages to one Ubsrlongo, Attention: Romana Longo purporting same to have been sent by Her Excellency, Mrs. Aisha Buhari, the First Lady and wife of the President of the Federal
Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency, President Muhhammad Buhari (GCFR),referring to an arrangement between US department of Treasury Direct Account and President Muhammad Buhari, relating to the formalization and revocation of the United States financial
impropriety, among others and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 14(3) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, ETC)
Act 2015.
“That you Uche Anyanwu Julius ‘m’ aka Musa Mohammed” and others atlarge on August 4, 2015 at the aforesaid place and judicial division did send forged electronic messages to “UBA BANK” purporting same tohave been sent by Her Excellency, Mrs. Aisha Buhari, the First Lady and wife of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His
Excellency, President Muhammadu Buhari (GCFR), relating to IMMEDIATE PAYMENT NOTIFICATION valued $20.500,000 (Twenty Million, Five Hundred Thousand US Dollar) among others and thereby committed anoffence punishable under Section 14(3) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition,Prevention, ETC) Act, 2015.
“That you Uche Anyanwu Julius ‘m’ aka Musa Mohammed” and others at large on August 8, 2018 at the aforesaid place and judicial divisiondid send forged electronic messages to one Wiedmantom, Attention:Wiedman Tom purporting same to have been sent by Her Excellency, Mrs. Aisha Buhari, the First Lady and wife of the President of the
Federal Republic of Nigeria,His Excellency, President Muhammadu Buhari (GCFR), relating to guarantee for certain undisclosed payment, amongothers and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 14(3)of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition,Prevention, ETC) Act, 2015.
“That you Uche Anyanwu Julius ‘m’ aka Musa Mohammed” and others atlarge on June 10, 2018 at the aforesaid place and judicial Divisiondid send forged electronic messages to one Werner Muller, purportingsame to have been sent by Her Excellency, Mrs. Aisha Buhari, the First Lady and wife of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency, President Muhammad Buhari (GCFR), relating to apayment captioned “ADVANCE PAYMENTS ARE NOT POSSSIBLE FOR ME!!”, amongothers and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 14(3)of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, ETC) Act, 2015.
“That you Uche Anyanwu Julius ‘m’ aka Musa Mohammed” and others atlarge on September 13, 2017 at the aforesaid place and judicial Division did send forged electronic messages to one Roy Tailor, Attention: All Genuine Funds Owners purporting same to have been sent by Her Excellency, Mrs. Aisha Buhari, the First Lady and wife of thePresident of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency, President Muhammadu Buhari GCFR, relating to a notice from Office of the Presidency, among others and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 14(3) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, ETC)
Act, 2015.
“That you Uche Anyanwu Julius ‘m’ aka Musa Mohammed” and others at large between August 8, 2018 and June , 2018 at the aforesaid placeand judicial Division did impersonate to be Her Excellency, Mrs.Aisha Buhari, the First Lady and wife of the President of the FederalRepublic of Nigeria His Excellency, President Muhammad Buhari GCFR, by sending the aforesaid electronic messages to the aforesaid persons inher name and with intent to gain advantage to yourself and didfraudulently obtain $20.5 billion USD equivalent of #7.44 Billion Naira from one Mr. William Carrol Shute, and thereby committed anoffence punishable under section 22(2)(b) of the cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, ETC) Act, 2015.
“That you Keneth Chikwado Ezeomu ‘m’ aka “Abdul Karim” on Spetember 22,2018 at No. 4a, Alhaji Kayode Street, Aguda Surulere, Lagos at the aforesaid Judicial division did send forged electronic messages to one Mohammed Satti relating to the nomination of the said Mohammed Satti as the beneficiary of $14,800,000.00 USD which you knew to be false
and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 14(3) of the cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, ETC) Act, 2015.
They pleaded not guilty and were remanded in prison custody. Justice Kuewumi adjourned the case till January 18, 2019 for commencement of trial.