EFCC Arraigns Suspected Conman For $90,000 Romance Scam

… EFCC Arraigns Oil Services Manager For N52.2m Fraud

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Wednesday, arraigned a suspected romance scammer: Omokoh Orowo Jesse before Justice R.B Akintola of the Oyo State High Court, Ibadan, on a 9-count charge bordering on conspiracy and obtaining money by false pretence.

Specifically, Jesse allegedly fleeced an Australian lady, Jette Jacobs of the sum of $90,000 (Ninety Thousand United States Dollars) in a romance scam that went awry. He reportedly met Jesse in an online dating site and contrived a relationship with her. Reports showed that Jette travelled to Johannesburg, South Africa in November 2012. Jesse left Nigeria to meet her on February 4, 2013. Five days later, Jette was found dead in her apartment.

Jesse returned to Nigeria two days after the discovery of the body of his supposed lover in her South- African apartment.

All the nine charges were read to Jesse and he pleaded not guilty.

Count one of the charge reads: 'Omokoh Orowo Jesse, Ifeanyi Oro (still at large), Emojewe (still at large) and David (still at large) sometime in 2012 at Ibadan within the Ibadan Judicial Division with intent to defraud conspired to obtain the sum of $70,000 (Seventy Thousand Dollars) from one Jette Jacobs, a 67-year-old Australian woman under the false pretence that the money represents payment for marriage engagement processes between you and her in Nigeria and which pretence you knew was false'.

In view of Jesse's plea, EFCC Counsel, Zainab Ettu prayed the court for a trial date and for the remand of the accused person in prison custody.

However, counsel to the accused person, Tunji Ogunude informed the court that he had filed an application for bail and sued for bail on liberal terms for his client.

Justice Akintola after listening to both counsel, adjourned the case till July 10, 2014 for hearing of bail application and ordered that the defendant be remanded in Agodi prison.

Meanwhile, the EFCC Wednesday arraigned the Finance Manager, Cetco Oilfields Services Limited, Akintunde Ajao alongside his company, YPSL Nigeria Limited, before Justice Lambo Akanbi of the Federal High Court, Port Harcourt on a 4-count charge bordering on conspiracy, forgery, and obtaining money by false pretence.

Akintunde allegedly used his office as Finance Manager to prepare a false tax liability for Cetco Oilfields Services Limited to the tune of Seventy Four Million, Nine Hundred and Sixty Three Thousand, Seven Hundred and Twelve Naira, Eighty Kobo (N74, 963, 712: 80).

Under the guise of acting on a directive emanating from the Rivers State Board of Internal Revenue, he remitted the sum of Twenty-Six Million, Eighteen Thousand Naira to the RSBIR as the actual tax liability of the company and diverted the sum of Fifty-Two Million, Two Hundred and Eighty Two Thousand (52, 282, 000:00) to YPSL Limited's account, a company allegedly promoted by him.

He pleaded not guilty to all the charges preferred against him and his company when they were read to him.

In view of his plea, the prosecuting counsel, Ramiah Ikhanaede prayed the court for a date for commencement of trial. The defence counsel, R.E. Wanogho however urged the court to grant the accused bail.

Justice Akanbi granted the accused bail in the sum of Five Hundred Thousand Naira (N500, 000, 00) with two sureties in like sum.

The matter was adjourned till the 26th June, 2014 for trial.