EFCC Drags Man To Court For Allegedly Duping APC Of N70m During Edo Election

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned one Tope Jimi Fagun at the Borno State High Court, Maiduguri, for allegedly defrauding the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of N70 million.

A statement by the EFCC’s Head of Media and Publicity, Wilson Uwujaren, on Tuesday, said Fagun was arraigned before Justice Aisha Kumaliya on a two-count charge of impersonation and obtaining N70, 000,000.00 (Seventy Million Naira) by false pretence.

The defendant was alleged to have presented himself as the APC governorship candidate in Edo State, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, to one Alhaji Bukar Dalori and fraudulently induced him to deliver the said sum under the pretext that the money was meant to aid the party’s campaign for the election held last year in the state.

Count one reads: “That you, Tope Jimi Fagun sometimes between July and August, 2020 in Maiduguri, Borno State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court and with intent to defraud induced the Borno State Chairman of All Progressive Congress Party (APC), one Alhaji Ali Bukar Dalori to cause the gross sum of Seventy Million Naira (N70,000,000.00) only (both in Naira and Dollar currencies) to be delivered to you in cash and via Bank transfers into Access Bank account number 0693630685 and First Bank account number 3053942408 under the false pretence that the said sum was to be utilized in promoting the APC campaign activities in the Edo State 2020 gubernatorial election which fact you knew to be false, thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under sections 1(1)(b) and 1(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006 respectively.”

The second count reads: “That you, Tope Jimi Fagun sometimes between July and August, 2020 in Maiduguri, Borno State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court falsely personated Pastor Ize Iyamu, the then All Progressive Congress (APC) gubernatorial candidate in Edo State 2020 gubernatorial election and in such assumed character induced the Borno State Chairman of All Progressive Congress Party (APC), one Alhaji Ali Bukar Dalori to cause the delivery unto you the gross sum of Seventy Million Naira (N70,000,000.00) only (both in Naira and Dollar currencies) with the view to enriching yourself fraudulently and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under sections 179 of the Penal Code Law Cap 102 Laws of Borno State.”

Fagun pleaded “not guilty” when the charges were read and the prosecution counsel, Alqasim Jafa’ar asked the court to remand him in prison.

But the defendant’s lawyer, Alli Apanisile informed the court of a pending application for bail and prayed the court allow the motion.

Justice Kumaliya declined the prayer and adjourned till November 24 for the hearing of the application and commencement of trial. The judge ordered that Fagun be remanded in a correctional facility.

KanyiDaily had also reported how a 60-year-old man, Charles Chikwe was dragged to court for duping a 50-year-old widow of N150,000 and valuables worth N627,000 on the pretext of marrying her.