A Warri-based internet fraud suspect has been remanded in prison custody after being arraigned and slammed with a seven-count charge by the The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). Ighofose Oyoma was yesterday arraigned before Justice E. A. Obile of the Federal High Court sitting in Warri, Delta State, charged with conspiracy, forgery and obtaining money by false pretence to the tune of $9,200.

Ighofose was arrested sometime in May, 2015 in Calabar, Cross River State, following intelligence report on his involvement in internet scams.

During investigation different scam mails which he used in defrauding his victims, mostly foreign women by presenting himself as Mike Anderson, an American businessman, were recovered.

One of the charges reads: “That you Ighofose Oyoma a.k.a Mike Anderson, on or about the month of May, 2014, at Warri, Delta State, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did conspire with one Bright Achi and Desmond (now at large) to commit felony to wit: obtaining money by false pretence, and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 8 (b) and punishable under Section 1 (3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act, 2006.”

The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charge when it was read to him.

In view of his plea, prosecution counsel, M.T. Iko, urged the court to fix a date for the commencement of trial and to remand the defendant in prison custody. However, the defence counsel, O. W. Ewenode, informed the court that he had filed a summons for bail and served same on the prosecution.

Justice Obille adjourned the matter to May 23, 2016 for hearing of the bail application and ordered that the defendant be remanded in prison custody.