By Jude-Ken Ojinnaka
A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos was on Wednesday told how unknown victims paid about N72 million into the account of a businesswoman on behalf of a defendant, Mrs Cecilia Agu, a therapist who is standing trial of internet scam to the tune of over N250 million and $1,358,305 USD.
A businesswoman, Mrs Chioma Charity Okafor of No 6 Madubuike Close, Jabi, Abuja, was testifying as first prosecution witness in the trial of Cecilia Agu before Justice Daniel Osiagor.
The witness was led in evidence by the prosecutor, Mr S.E. Iredia.
Narrating how the said monies were paid into her account, the witness said that around 20th of February, 2023, as she was traveling out of the country, the defendant Cecilia Agu sent a voice note to her asking for her help by giving her account details in order to pay in some money which she will withdraw later.
The witness said she obliged her and made her account details available to the defendant.
“She is my friend and neighbor and I gave her my bank account.
“Thereafter, money started coming in tranches of N300,000, N500,000, and at a point, she started getting N5million, N10 million and so on.
“I was happy for her, that Cecilia is making money through my account.”
The witness said that after seeing huge amount being paid into her account, she became afraid and told Cecilia Agu to stop paying money into the account but the money was still coming.
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She said that at a point, both of them (witness and defendant) sat down and calculated the money and about N72 million was paid into her account.
The witness told the court that after the calculation of the money, the defendant gave her account details and two other accounts and asked her to pay the money into the accounts given to her.
According to the witness, one month after she reconciled her account with Cecilia Agu, she went to her bank and was told that her account has been been blocked due to suspected fraudulent transactions.
Her account officer told her that transactions in her account was a typical fraud case and advised her to report to the police if she is in doubt.
She said that after reporting to the police, she was interrogated and detained. Chioma Okafor told the court that she called the defendant but she did not come until after two weeks when she came and then the police granted her bail and detained the defendant.
“I wrote statement and gave evidence of all the money that was paid into my account to the police, including print out of part of the conversation between two of us,” the witness said.
The prosecution tendered the witness statement and printout of parts of the conversation as exhibits which were admitted.
On the admissibility of the statement of account of the witness, the defence counsel opposed it, saying that it was not in the proof of evidence before him.
However, the prosecution withdrew the document.
Under cross examination by defence counsel Mr E. E. Asia, the witness confirmed that the defendant is her friend and neighbor
In another question, she said that she is in business of medical equipment and investment of money in companies.
On whether she knows one Babatunde Oyebode, she answered in the negative.
At the close of cross examination, the prosecution asked for another date to enable them put their house in order.
Justice Osiagor adjourned the matter till February 7, 2024 for continuation of trial.
The defendant is charged by the Inspector General of Police on 9-count charge of offences bordering on computer related forgery and fraud; input,alter,delete,or suppression of data , defrauding one Babatunde Oyebode the sum of N250 million and obtaining under false pretences the sum of USD 1,358,305 from Babatunde Oyebode.
The offences are contrary to Section 27(a)and (b) of the Cybercrime Prohibition and Prevention Act 2015; Section 390 of the Criminal Laws of Nigeria 2006 and Section 1(a)(b)(c) (2) and Section 11(1) and (2) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act 2006.
The defendant had pleaded not guilty when she was arraigned before Justice Osiagor.