The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, arraigned one Ijeboi Dennis and one Obade Monday Christian before Justice Abubakar Baba Shani of the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Apo, Abuja, on Thursday.
Dennis (alias Andrew Tran huynh) and Monday, who also claimed to be a Commander with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, FBI, as well as a Diplomat Director, were arraigned on a five-count charge bordering on conspiracy and obtaining $2, 822,860.00 by false pretence.
This was however contained in a statement, signed by the EFCC’s spokesperson, Wilson Uwujaren, in Abuja.
According to the charge, the defendants conspired to defraud one Holly Ngo, a United States citizen while posing as American doctors stranded in Afghanistan.
Counsel to the defendants, S.T Sanni attempted to abort the planned arraignment of the defendants today as he informed the court that the defendants only received the charge and proof of evidence on Wednesday, November 16, 2022.
But his objection was overruled by the judge, who ruled that the prosecution had complied with Section 35 of the Constitution by producing the defendants in court, and ordered that, arraignment of the defendant should proceed.
Count two of the charge against the defendants reads, “That you, Ijeboi Dennis (aka Andrew Tran Huynh), Obade Monday Christian (aka FBI Commander/Diplomat Director), Ekhoguagbon Osazuwa Patrick (aka Patrick Paul)(still at large) and Omage Emmanuel Omole(now deceased) between January 2021 and September 2021, in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, with the intent to defraud, obtained an aggregate sum of $2,8822,860.00(Two Million, Eight Hundred and Twenty Two Thousand, Eight Hundred and Sixty United States Dollars) from Holy Ngo, a United States Citizens under the false pretense that you are American doctors stranded in Afghanistan, which you knew to be false and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1(1)(a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act,2006 and punishable under Section 1(3) of the same Act.”
They pleaded not guilty to the charges.
In view of their pleas, prosecution counsel, Christopher Mshelia, prayed the court to set a date for trial and remand the defendants in the custody of a Correctional Facility but Sanni urged the court to allow the defendants in the custody of the EFCC pending determination of their bail application.
Justice Baba Shani remanded the defendants at the Suleja Correctional Facility and adjourned the matter till January 11, 2023 for trial.