A 37-year-old graduate of Federal Polytechnic, Auchi, Edo State, identified as Akintunde Vincent Abiodun has been arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for forgery and obtaining money by false pretences.
Akintunde on Monday appeared before Justice Oluwatoyin Ipaye of Lagos State High Court, Ikeja, for defrauding one D. Bonnici of 267,000 New Zealand Dollars by claiming to be Christopher Williams from the United Kingdom whom he met on a dating online platform.
The complainant said that she met Akintunde who allegedly claimed to be Christopher Williams from the United Kingdom and unknowingly fell in love with him.
According to her, the accused started collecting money from her after he claimed he was in possession of gemstone worth $18,050,000 (Eighteen Million and Fifty Thousand United States Dollars).
Narrating further, she said that Akintunde promised that he was coming to New Zealand to settle down with her, adding that the money sent to the suspect were received in Malaysia and Nigeria by persons bearing Norisha, Jalan Klan, and Mohammed Haizam Bin Fauzin who claimed to be Akintunde’s friends.
Akintunde pleaded not guilty to the 14-count charges and pleaded not guilty.
Justice Ipaye ordered the defendant be remanded in Kirikiri prison custody while the case was adjourned to 7 and 8 March, 2017 for trial.
