The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Wednesday, October 31,2012 arraigned four suspects before Justice C.A. Balogun of the Lagos State High Court, Igbosere on a twenty-six count charge bordering on forgery and conspiracy to obtain the sum of N53,577.597.00 (Fifty Three Million, Five Hundred and Seventy Seven Thousand, Five Hundred and Ninety Seven naira ) from one Sani Kabir by falsely representing to him that the said sum represented the equivalent of 210,000,00 USD which his partner, one Mr. Virgo paid into his account for the purchase of land in Lekki/Ajah area of Lagos.

The four accused persons are Nwaigwe Chris Chukwuebuka (a.k.a Gabriel Cole), Farouk Balogun (a.k.a James Griffin), Jeje Olaniran (a.k.a Derek Park) and Akanni Rasheed.

One of the charge reads:

"Nwaigwe Chris Chukwuebuka (a.k.a Gabriel Cole) Farouk Balogun (a.k.a James Griffin) Jeje Olaniran (a.k.a Derek Park) and Akanni Rasheed on or about the 27th day of April 2012 at Ikeja within the Ikeja Judicial Division with intent to defraud conspired to obtain the sum of N53,577.597.00 (fifty three million, five hundred and seventy seven thousand and five hundred and ninety seven naira) from Sani Kabir by falsely representing to him that the said represented the equivalent of 210,000,00 USD which your partner Mr. Virgo paid into his account for the purchase of land in Lekki/Ajah Lagos which representation you knew to be false."
The accused persons pleaded not guilty to the charge. EFCC counsel, O.A. Bosede then informed the court that the prosecution was ready for trial and urged it to remand the accused persons in prison custody pending the hearing of their bail applications.

Justice Balogun adjourned the case to November 13, 2012 for hearing of bail applications and ordered that the accused persons be remanded in Ikoyi prison.

Wilson Uwujaren
Ag. Head, Media & Publicity
31st October, 2012