Court Remands Suspected Internet Fraudster In Ibadan

A man, Yusuf Babatunde, was on Monday remanded in Agodi prison by Justice P.I. Ajoku of the Federal High Court, Ibadan, over alleged impersonation and fraud involving $1,600.

Ajoku ordered Babatunde to be remanded after he had pleaded not guilty to a three-count charge bordering on impersonation and obtaining money under false pretence leveled against him.

The judge adjourned the case to June 5 for commencement of trial and hearing of bail application.

Earlier, Mr. S.H. Ibekute, Counsel to EFCC, had informed the court that the suspect committed the crime in December, 2018, in Ibadan when he falsely presented himself as a citizen of the United States living in California and defrauded one Jovania Diaz, Angelo Macetti and Hamet Bagci.

According to the prosecutor, Babatunde, who operated under a fake name known as John Ben, also deceived unsuspecting foreigners using an illegal email address- lilianjohn0147@gmail.com.

The EFCC counsel told the court that the suspect fraudulently obtained the cash sum from his victims after he had lied to them that he was a vehicle dealer.


(NAN)