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| The suspects | credits: File copy |
The Economic and Financial Crimes
Commission has arraigned two suspects, Joseph Badmus and Akeju Bola,
before Justice Mudashiru Oniyangi of the FCT High Court, Abuja on 30
counts of conspiracy, impersonation and forgery.
The suspects were alleged to have been
parading themselves as EFCC officials and defrauding unsuspecting
victims of millions of naira under the pretext of assisting them to
suppress petitions pending before the commission.
The charges read in part, “That you,
Joseph Olatunde Badmus and Akeju Isaac Bola, sometimes between October
2012 and May 2013 in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of the High Court of
the Federal Capital Territory falsely pretended to be officers of the
Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, and in such assumed character,
did attempt to obtain money from various unsuspecting individuals under
the colour of such office and thereby committed an offence punishable
under section 132 of the Penal Code Cap 532 Laws of the Federation of
Nigeria (Abuja) 1990.”
The accused persons pleaded not guilty to the charge.
Counsel for EFCC, Chris Mshelia, urged
the court to remand the accused in prison custody pending the hearing of
their bail application.
However, counsel for the accused
persons, Osuagwu Ugochukwu, prayed the court to admit his clients to
bail, assuring that they would be available to face their trial.
Justice Oniyangi ordered that the
accused persons be remanded in Kuje prison and adjourned the matter to
September 27, 2013 for hearing of the bail application.
The suspects were arrested following a
complaint by Dr. Olotu Osasu, the Medical Director of Federal
Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Benin, Edo State. He stated that the suspects
claimed that there was a petition against him and advised him to part
with some money to enable them give him a soft landing.
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