The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on June 6, 2016 arraigned the duo of John Elijah Edet and Jeffery Ulu Orji before Justice U.N Agomoh of the Federal High Court, Port Harcourt, Rivers State on an 8-count charge of internet fraud and obtaining by false pretence to the tune of Two Thousand, Nine Hundred and Seventy Four US Dollars ($2,974).

The accused persons were apprehended following an intelligence report on their alleged fraudulent escapades. Upon their arrest, various scam mails were printed from their laptops which they use in defrauding unsuspecting victims.
One of the count reads: “that you John Elijah Edet (alias Lars Ernest Eivinsen) and Jeffery Ulu Orji (alias Michael) and others now at large on or about the 28th of December 2015 in Port Harcourt, Rivers State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did conspire to commit felony to wit: obtaining money by false pretence and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 8 (a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006 and punishable under Section 1 (3) of the same Act”.
Among others, one of the accused was alleged to have obtained the sum of $1,700 from one Renee M. through S. Alexander in the U.S via moneygram, while posing as a 50-year-old widower in search of a wife.
The accused persons pleaded not guilty to the charge.
In view of their plea, the prosecution counsel, Ramiah Ikhanaede asked the court to fix a date for trial and to remand the accused persons in prison custody.
Justice Agomoh adjourned the matter to September  21, 27 and 28  for trial and ordered that the defendants be remanded in prison custody.

Media & Publicity
6th June, 2016