Internet Fraud Suspect Arraigned, Remanded In Prison In Kwara

A Kwara  State High Court sitting in Ilorin on Tuesday October 8, 2019 ordered one Babatunde Muhammad Bashir to be remanded in Oke Kura Prison pending the hearing and determinating of a four count charge  bordering on internet fraud brought against him by the Ilorin zonal office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Count one of the charge reads, “That you,  Babatunde Muhammad Bashir on or about the 20th day of September 2019 in Ilorin, within the Jurisdiction of the High Court of Kwara State,  with intend to defraud,  had in your possession a document containing false pretence, to wit: hangout with +1 6212-913-2052, in which you represented yourself as a Detective and requested one Mr Elian Torres Saucedo to send $500 gift cards,  a representation you knew to be false and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 6 and 8 (b) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act 2006 and punishable under section 1(3) of the same Act”.

He pleaded ” not guilty” to the four count charges.

In view of his plea, the prosecuting counsel, Christopher Mschelia asked the court for a date  for the commencement of trial and to remand the defendant in prison custody pending the hearing and determination of the case.

However, defense counsel, Lanre Badmus objected to the prosecution’s request for the remand of his client in prison custody.

Justice Oyinloye however over ruled the objection and ordered the defendant to be remanded in Oke-Kura Prison .

The matter was adjourned to October 30, 2019 for commencement of trial.