Justice Aisha Kumaliya of the Borno State High Court, sitting in Maiduguri has fixed twenty fourth of this month to begin trial against Pastor Ize Iyamu impersonator.
The defendant, Tope Jimi Fagun, allegedly presented himself as Pastor Ize Iyamu to one Alhaji Bukar Dalori and fraudulently induced him to deliver the sum of N70m under the pretext that the money was meant to aid the All Progressives Congress 2020 gubernatorial election campaign in Edo State.
According to the prosecutor, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Maiduguri Zonal Command, Tope Jimi Fagun sometimes between July and August, 2020 in Maiduguri, with intent to defraud induced the Borno State Chairman of All Progressive Congress Party (APC), Alhaji Ali Bukar Dalori to cause the gross sum of Seventy Million Naira (N70,000,000.00) only (both in Naira and Dollar currencies) to be delivered to you in cash and via Bank transfers under the false pretence that the said sum was to be utilized in promoting the APC campaign activities in the Edo State 2020 gubernatorial election.
The commission noted that the defendant offence is punishable under sections 1(1)(b) and 1(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006 respectively.
Subsequently, the defendant was arraigned on a two count charge of impersonation and obtaining money by false pretense.
Read Also: Alleged N12bn Fraud: Court Threaten To Jail Banks’ Executives
The defendant pleaded ‘not guilty’ when the charges were read to him.
Prosecution counsel, Alqasim Jafa’ar asked the court to remand the defendant in prison and fix a date for trial to commence.
Defendant counsel, Mr. Alli Apanisile however informed the court of a pending application for bail of his client which has been duly served on the prosecution.
He prayed the court to be allowed to move the motion for bail.
Justice Kumaliya however declined the prayer while adjourning the matter till November 24, 2021 for hearing of the bail application and commencement of trial.
The judge thereafter ordered that the defendant be remanded in the Correctional Facility.
One of the count reads: “That you, Tope Jimi Fagun sometimes between July and August, 2020 in Maiduguri, Borno State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court falsely personated Pastor Ize Iyamu, the then All Progressive Congress (APC) gubernatorial candidate in Edo State 2020 gubernatorial election and in such assumed character induced the Borno State Chairman of All Progressive Congress Party (APC), one Alhaji Ali Bukar Dalori to cause the delivery unto you the gross sum of Seventy Million Naira (N70,000,000.00) only (both in Naira and Dollar currencies) with the view to enriching yourself fraudulently and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under sections 179 of the Penal Code Law Cap 102 Laws of Borno State.”
