29th February, 2012
An ICPC Investigation Officer, Mr. Adera Akison, told an Abuja High Court on Tuesday how the commission arrested a suspected fraudster, Sunny Omokhagbor.
Omokhagbor is standing trial on a six-count charge of defrauding three people in August 2008.
The ICPC alleged that the accused paraded himself as a German-based businessman who imported cars and secured German visas for people.
The ICPC alleged that the accused defrauded a complainant, Mr. Joseph Iyase, the Manager of Omega Hotels, Wuse Zone 7, Abuja, of N1.7 million
The commission also alleged that the accused defrauded Mrs. Maria Ewubare of N1.3 million and Hajiya Aisha Aliyu of N450, 000 with a promise to deliver vehicles to them.
Led in evidence by the prosecutor, Mrs. Olukemi Adeneye, Akison told Justice Folasade Ojo that during the “sting operation,” he posed as a man who was interested in doing business with Omokhagbor.
He said that he played the role of a potential victim and the accused (Omokhagbor) fell for it, adding that the commission deployed a “bait” to arrest the accused and he fell for it.
He said: “We arranged to meet with the accused on August 18, 2008 in Omega Hotels in Wuse Zone 7, and on that day, he demanded a down-payment of N300,000 to enable him to “clear his goods.
“Posing as a potential customer and after payment of N100, 000, the accused promised to deliver the non-existent vehicles.
“He did not know that the N100,000 I gave him were marked money and the commission had made copies of each note, marked and registered the serial numbers of each note before I handed the money to him (the accused).
Akison said that after the transaction, the accused (Omokhagbor) was arrested on August 20, 2008.
He further said that the accused was detained at the headquarters of the ICPC located in the Central Business District, Abuja.
He also testified that the accused made useful confessions which led to recovery of some money which were handed over to the rightful owners.
Ojo therefore adjourned the case to April 25 for the accused person to open his defence.