The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on November 12, 2015 arraigned one Emmanuel Eromosele (alias Bryan Perry) before Justice P.I. Ajoku of the Federal High Court sitting in Benin on a 3-Count charge bordering on fraud to the tune of One Thousand, Five Hundred United State Dollars (1500 USD).
Eromosele allegedly defrauded one James Sindelar in the United Kingdom through Western Union Money Transfer of the said sum while answering the name Bryan Perry and parading himself as a barrister, waiting to be conferred with a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN.
The accused person, allegedly sent fraudulent messages to inbox folder of the victim, “I Need Your Help” and to other unsuspecting foreign nationals seeking help and promising unfulfilled agreement for personal benefits before the law caught up with him.
Count one reads:
“That you Emmanuel Eromosele and others at large on or before the 20th of July 2015 in Benin City, Edo State within the Jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, with intent did conspired to commit felony to wit: Obtain Money by False Pretence and Thereby committed an Offence contrary to Section 8 (a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act, 2006 and punishable under Section 1(3) of the same Act”.
Another count reads:
“That you Emmanuel Eromosele Akhalu ( (alias Bryan Perry ) and others now at large on or about the 20th of July 2015 in Benin City, Edo State within the Jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did obtained the sum of 1500 U.S Dollars from James Sindelar ‘’m’ in the United Kingdom through Western Union Money Transfer under the false pretence that you are a Barrister soon to be conferred Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), a pretext you knew to be false and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 1 (1) (a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and other Fraud Related Offences Act 2006 and punishable under section 1 (3) of the same Act.
In view of his plea, counsel to EFCC, Ramiah Ikhanaede asked the court to fix a date for trial to commence and urged the court to remand the accused in prison custody .
However, the defense counsel, Charity Mguobarueghian prayed the court to admit the accused person to bail adding that, the alleged offence is bail able.
Justice Ajoku adjourned to January 27, 2016 for the hearing of bail application and ordered the accused person to be remanded in prison custody.
