Nigerian student arraigned for internet romance fraud

A 21 year-old student, Ebiechina Chikeluba has been charged with internet romance fraud, his latest heist being the N20million he milked from an unsuspecting victim.

Chikeluba ,a student of Federal Science and Technical College, Yaba in Lagos, was docked by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, before Justice O. A Ipaye of the High Court of Lagos State, Ikeja on a 17-count charge bordering on obtaining money by false pretence, impersonation, forgery and using false documents.

The accused met his latest victim on Facebook using the false identity of Lisa T. Jackson, a United States citizen. He made monetary demands on his victim, using various gimmicks.

In one such instance in March 2013, he obtained £54,324.59 (Fifty Four Thousand, Three Hundred and Twenty Four Pounds, Fifty Nine Pence) from one K. Oaks through Western Union on the pretext that he was an American woman dealing in Gold in Nigeria and needed money to increase her capital.

The unsuspecting victim paid, having already agreed to marry the conman.

When the charges were read to the defendant, he pleaded not guilty.

In view of the plea of the accused, prosecution counsel, Andrew Akoja asked for a trial date and prayed the court to remand the defendant in prison custody.

The defence counsel, Chijioke Agu informed the court that he has already filed an application for bail and asked to be allowed to move his application.

However, Justice Ipaye adjourned the matter to July 20, 2015 for hearing of bail application and ordered that the defendant be remanded in custody.

Chikeluba was arrested by the operatives of the EFCC on February 24, 2015.

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