The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Enugu Zonal Directorate, has arraigned a 38-year-old man, Raheem Abiodun Wasiu, before the Enugu State High Court for allegedly defrauding a Bureau de Change operator of $5,000.
Wasiu was arraigned before Justice H. O. Eya, sitting at the Independence Layout, Enugu, on a two-count charge bordering on stealing by conversion and obtaining money by false pretence.
According to the EFCC, Wasiu allegedly obtained $5,000 from Stanley Chukwuamuanya Ezekulie on July 6, 2026, after falsely representing that he would transfer the naira equivalent of N7.05 million to him.
The charge stated that the defendant made the representation “with intent to defraud” and knew it to be false.
The alleged offence contravenes Section 1(1)(a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006, and is punishable under Section 1(3) of the same Act.
Wasiu pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Following his plea, prosecution counsel, Chief Superintendent of the EFCC, CSE Chiekezie Raymond Edozie, urged the court to remand the defendant in the custody of the Nigerian Correctional Service and grant an accelerated hearing of the case.
“The prosecution has facts which, if brought to the notice of the court, will make the court unwilling to grant the defendant bail,” Edozie told the court.
Defence counsel, A. J. Ebube, however, made an oral application for bail on behalf of his client.
The court subsequently adjourned the matter to October 28, 2026, for hearing of the bail application, while November 3 and 10 were fixed for trial.
The defendant was thereafter remanded at the Enugu facility of the Nigerian Correctional Service.
The EFCC said Wasiu was arrested by operatives of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps following a complaint by Ezekulie, a Bureau de Change operator, who alleged that the defendant defrauded him of $5,000.
According to the Commission, investigations revealed that Wasiu allegedly rented different Toyota Hilux trucks, posed as a wealthy contractor, moved around with escorts and approached Bureau de Change operators in the South-East and Akwa Ibom State.
The EFCC alleged that he would collect money from the operators and subsequently present fake naira payment alerts to deceive them into believing that their transactions had been completed.
The Commission said the investigation was ongoing.