EFCC Arraign Two for $91,000 Internet Fraud

The Economic and Financial Crimes
Commission, EFCC, on Friday, September
26, 2014 arraigned Dandeson Ebosele
Ibhonitie, 26, (a.k.a Dandy James, Connor
Mead and Barrister Louis Harpoch and
Ohiwerei Charity, 31, before Justice E. F.
Ikponmwen of Edo State High Court, Benin-
City on a 3- count charge bordering on
conspiracy and obtaining money by false
pretence.
Ibhonitie and Charity allegedly belong to the
group of fraudsters using the internet to
defraud unsuspecting victims.
Ibhonitie allegedly defrauded one Mrs. Weidman
Andrea Sabrie, a German, of the sum of $ 91,000
(Ninety-One Thousand United States Dollars) by
pretending to be an American working in Nigeria
for a road construction company.
To access the proceeds of the fraud, Ibhonitie
allegedly opened a domiciliary account in the
name of one Mr. Steven. He entered into an
agreement with Charity, the account officer that
opened the account for him, on how the proceeds
from the crime will be shared. By the
arrangement, Charity was to keep 3 percent of
every inflow to herself while 7 percent will go to
Ibhonitie. The remaining 90 percent, by the
arrangement, went to Steven. However,
investigations showed that Ibhonitie was the
same as Steven.
When the charges were read to them, they
pleaded not guilty.
One of the counts read:
"Dandeson Ebosele Ibhonitie (a.k.a Dandy
James, Connor Mead, Barrister Louis Harpoch,
Brett Francis Steven (still at large) and Ohiwerei
Charity on or about the 2nd day of April, 2014 at
Benin within the Benin judicial division, with
intent to defraud obtained the sum of USD
45,000.00(Forty Five Thousand United State
Dollars) from Mrs. Weidman Andrea Sabrie, a
German national through Skye Bank of Nigeria
Limited Account No: 2520346555 in the name of
Dandy James by falsely pretending to her that
the said sum of money represented legal fee for
Barrister Louis Harpoch for your defense which
pretence you knew to be false".
In view of their pleas, prosecuting counsel,
Ayokunle Fayanju, prayed the court for a trial
date. He also opposed the bail applications of
the defendants.
Justice Ikponmwen adjourned the matter till
August, 30, 2014 for hearing of bail applications
and ordered that the defendants be remanded in
prison custody.