Internet Fraud: Court Fixes Dec. 3 For Judgement

Justice Obiozor fixed the date after the prosecution and defendant argued and adopted their written addresses on the charge.

The defendant was alleged to have conspired with some other persons now at large and defrauded a bank of the sum of N35 million, which which he diverted to his accounts domiciled in Zenith Bank and United Bank for Africa (UBA).

The defendant was first arraigned before the court on six counts charge of conspiracy, obtaining under false pretence, fraud and forgery.

In particular, the defendant on July 13, 2015, allegedly hacked the email address and cloned the letterhead of a company named Greenview Development Nigeria Limited and used same to write a letter to the Bank Plc to transfer the sum of N25m to the account of ICT Aid Foundation Cooperative Society domiciled with United Bank for Africa.

 It was further alleged that upon transferred of the said money to his account, he diverted to his accounts in UBA and Zenith banks on July 22, 2015.

During the defendant’s trial, the prosecution counsel, Ekele Iheanacho called three witnesses and tendered several documents as exhibits, which were allegedly used to perpetrate the fraud by the defendant.

At the close of the prosecution case, the defendant opened his defence and solely witness for himself, whereby he denied the allegations.

At the resumed hearing of the matter today, counsel to the defendant, Tochukwu Onyuike, while adumbrating on his client’s written address, told the court that the prosecution has failed to link his client to all the charges.

Consequently, Tochukwu urged the court to discharge and acquit his client of the charges.

Responding, Iheanacho while also adumbrating on his written address, told the court that the defendant has not been able to contravene all the facts presented before the court on the charges.

The prosecutor also told the court that all evidence given by the prosecution witnesses linked the defendant to the charge. He consequently urges the court to uphold that the prosecution has prove its case against the defendant beyond reasonable doubt and to convict the defendant accordingly.

Upon hearing from the parties, Justice Obiozor, adjourned till December 3, for judgment on the matter.

One of the charges against the defendant read,  “That you, Juiles Suinner, on or about the 13th day of July 2015, in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, with intent to obtain money under false pretences, conspired with ICT Aid Foundation Cooperative Society (still at large) and others (still at large) to fraudulently impersonate officials of Greenview Development Nigeria Limited”.