The Port Harcourt Zonal office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Tuesday, October 20, 2020 arraigned Igwe Prince Chukwuebuka before Justice I.M. Sani of the Federal High Court, sitting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State on a three-count charge bordering on internet fraud and obtaining money under false pretense to the tune of N2, 400, 000. 00 (Two Million, Four Hundred Naira only).

One of the charges read: "That you Igwe Chukwuebuka Prince, (Alias Andrews Grant and Collins Williams) on or about the 3rd March, 2019, at Port Harcourt, Rivers State, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did use the sum of Two Million Four Hundred Thousand Naira (N2,400,000) to purchase a Toyota Camry 2008 model with registration number Imo NGN 240 MX and chassis number 4TIBK46K371155669 which sum you reasonably ought to know form part of proceeds from an unlawful act to wit: obtaining by false pretense thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 15 (1) (d) of the Money Laundering (Prohibitions ) Act No 11, 2011 ( as amended) and punishable under section 15 (3) of the same Act.

In view of his plea of “not guilty”, prosecution counsel, Esin-Otu Ebipade, prayed the court to remand the defendant in Port Harcourt Correctional Centre, pending the commencement of trial.

Justice Sani however granted the defendant bail in the sum of N5, 000,000, ( Five Million Naira) and a surety in like sum.

He ordered the remand of the defendant in the EFCC custody and adjourned the matter till January 19, 2021 for continuation of trial.

Chukwuebuka ran into trouble when, upon credible intelligence, a team of EFCC operatives raided a hideout of suspected internet fraudsters in Omoku, Port Harcourt, where he was arrested. Items such as a white 2008 Toyota Camry car and an infinix X571 mobile phone were recovered from him.

Further investigation showed that he was involved in the impersonation of foreigners to defraud both local and international victims.

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20 October, 2020