The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Wednesday, October 7, 2020, presented its first witness, a Compliance Officer with Guaranty Trust Bank Plc, GTB, Samuel Orie, against a self-acclaimed social media influencer, Rukayat Adedamola Adewale, aka Adeherself.
Adeherself was re-arraigned for alleged internet fraud before Justice Sherifat Solebo of the Special Offence Court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos.
The Commission had arraigned the defendant on a count charge when the matter was brought to court sometimes in June this year.
The count read: “That you, Adewale Adedamola Rukayat, on or about the 15th day of June, 2020 in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, with intent to defraud, had in your possession documents titled “WhatsAPP”, which representations you knew or ought to have known, was false and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 6 (8) (b) and 1 (3) (d) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act No. 14 of 2006.
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At the commencement of trial, EFCC informed the court of an amended charges and pray it should be read to the defendant for her plea.
Adeherself was rearraigned on a three-count charge bordering on conspiracy to obtain by false pretence, attempt to obtain by false pretence and retention of proceeds of a criminal conduct.
One of the counts reads: “That you, Adewale Adedamola Rukayat, Lasisi Wasiu Adeleke, ( still at large) Sodiq Adeleke( still at large), between the 17th day of April, 2020 and 24th May, 2020 at Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, with intent to defraud, attempted to obtain the sum of $6,000 (Six Thousand Dollars) from Joseph Rumoro on the representation that the sum is meant for procurement of passport, visa and tax, which representation you knew to be false.”
Another charge reads: “That you, Adewale Adedamola Rukayat, between 29th day of April, 2020 and 30th day of April, 2020, in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, retained the control of the aggregate sum of N7,876.000 (Seven Million, Eight Hundred and Seventy- six Thousand Naira) in your Guaranty Trust Bank, GTB account number 0240818624, which you knew to be proceeds of various internet and cybercrimes.”
She pleaded not guilty to the charge when it was read to her.
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In view of her plea, the prosecution present his first witness, Orie, against the defendant.
Led in evidence by the prosecution counsel, Samuel Daji, the witness told the court that GTB received a letter from the Commission, asking for the statement of account as well as the account opening package of the defendant, which it sent to the Commission.
Consequently, the prosecution counsel tender the documents, which were admitted in evidence by the court.
The case was adjourned to October 26, 2020 for continuation of trial.
