Two arraigned for posing as EFCC officials

Posted by admin EFCC Politics, Headlines Thursday, July 25th, 2013

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has arraigned two suspects, Joseph Badmus and Akeju Bola, before Justice Mudashiru Oniyangi of the FCT High Court, Abuja on 30 counts of conspiracy, impersonation and forgery.

The suspects were alleged to have been parading themselves as EFCC officials and defrauding unsuspecting victims of millions of naira under the pretext of assisting them to suppress petitions pending before the commission.

The charges read in part, “That you, Joseph Olatunde Badmus and Akeju Isaac Bola, sometimes between October 2012 and May 2013 in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory falsely pretended to be officers of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, and in such assumed character, did attempt to obtain money from various unsuspecting individuals under the colour of such office and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 132 of the Penal Code Cap 532 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria (Abuja) 1990.”

The accused persons pleaded not guilty to the charge.

Counsel for EFCC, Chris Mshelia, urged the court to remand the accused in prison custody pending the hearing of their bail application.

However, counsel for the accused persons, Osuagwu Ugochukwu, prayed the court to admit his clients to bail, assuring that they would be available to face their trial.

Justice Oniyangi ordered that the accused persons be remanded in Kuje prison and adjourned the matter to September 27, 2013 for hearing of the bail application.

The suspects were arrested following a complaint by Dr. Olotu Osasu, the Medical Director of Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Benin, Edo State. He stated that the suspects claimed that there was a petition against him and advised him to part with some money to enable them give him a soft landing.

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