two arrested for $91,000 fraud by EFCC

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.