N5Bn Scam: EFCC arraigns Port Harcourt Ponzi Scheme promoter, secures conviction of three internet fraudsters in Abuja
Posted by News Express | 24 December 2019 | 1,414 times
The Economic and
Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Port Harcourt Zonal Office, on Monday, December 23, 2019 arraigned Mr. Suani Neewi, Managing
Director of Bluekey Technologies Nigeria Limited and Cityclyk Bluekey Payment,
and his two companies before Justice I. M Sani of the Federal High Court
sitting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, on three- count charges bordering on
conspiracy, carrying out banking business without licence and obtaining money
by false pretence to the tune of N5,084,491,253.92) contrary to Section 1 (1)
(a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act No. 14, 2006 and
punishable under Section 1(3) of the same Act.
Specifically, Neewi
allegedly opened his two companies as a pseudo bank, took deposits from members
of the public and promised them 10% returns on their investments every week. The
business went awry and the EFCC got wind of it and moved to salvage the
situation.
One of the counts reads:
“That you, Bluekey Technologies Nigeria Limited, Cityclyk Bluekey Payment
Solutions and Neewi Suani sometime in 2019, in Port Harcourt within the
jurisdiction of this honourable court with intent to defraud, obtained the Sum
of N5,084,491,253.92 (Five Billion, and Eighty Four Million, Four Hundred and
Ninety One Thousand, Two Hundred and Fifty Three Naira, Ninety Two Kobo) by
inducing unsuspecting members of the public to invest with your company BlueKey
Technologies Nigeria Limited, Cityclyk Bluekey Payment Solutions, Bluekey Woji
Multipurpurpose Cooperative Society, assuring them under a false pretence of
making a 10 percent profit on all investments made, a representation you knew to be false, and
thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1 (1) (a) of the Advance Fee
Fraud and Other Related Offences Act No. 14, 2006 and punishable under Section
1(3) of the same Act.”
The defendants pleaded
not guilty to the charges when they were read to them.
In view of their
pleas, prosecuting counsel C. Okorie prayed the court to fix a date for
commencement of trial.
However, counsel to
the defendants, M. O. Salihu, informed the court of his application for bail of
the defendants.
Justice Sani granted
the defendants bail in the sum of N20 million and two sureties in like sum. The
sureties must have landed properties within the jurisdiction of the court and
must swear to an affidavit of means. The sureties must present three years tax
certificate and two recent passport photographs to be deposited with the court.
Also, the sureties’ address should be verified by the Deputy Chief Registrar (DCR)
of the court.
The Judge also ordered
that the defendants be remanded in a Correctional Centre, pending the
perfection of the bail while the matter was adjourned till February 25, 2020
for commencement of trial.
In another
development, Justice A.O Musa of the FCT High Court, Abuja, also yesterday,
convicted and sentenced three internet fraudsters to 14 months imprisonment for
defrauding their victims to the tune of $4,385.
The Abuja Zonal Office
of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, arraigned Emakhu Perfect
Odion (alias Harry Wilson/Michael Brown), Chukwuemeka Chanimuya and Oris Karim
Ogheneovo (alias James Hopkins) on separate charges that border on cheating, an
offence contrary to Section 320(b) and punishable under Section 322 of the
Panel Code Act, Laws of the Federation (Abuja).
While Emakhu was
docked on a two count charge for duping victims of $2,815 and $1,570 on the
pretext of processing loans for them, Chanimuya who falsely claimed to be a
Dane and obtained 50,000kr (Kroner), from one Catherine, was prosecuted on one
count of personation and cheating.
Karim who posed as
James Hopkins, a Danish citizen on Facebook and tricked his female victims to
pay him the sum of N1,250,000 after lying to them that he needed financial help
having been involved in an accident, was arraigned on one count of romance
scam.
After the charges were
read to the three defendants, they pleaded guilty.
Prosecution counsel,
H. M. Muhammed, told the court that the defendants had entered into a plea
bargain with the prosecution and prayed the court to adopt the agreement,
convict and sentence them accordingly.
The defence counsel,
Gali Usman and Chuka Obidike, told the court to temper justice with mercy,
adding that the defendants were remorseful and would forfeit all the proceeds
of the crime.
Source: News Express
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