25th October, 2021
A Nigerian Abdulrahim Dangana, who pretended to be gay has been docked for blackmailing homosexuals he met on Gay/Bisexual hook-up App called Grindr and A4A website.
Dangana’s assumed names on the fora were RYAN, DAVE, FRANK and ERIC, with which he contrived relationships with victims, lured them in sharing nude photos, only to turn around to using them as tools of blackmail.
On Monday, the EFCC brought Dangana beforeJustice Darius Khobo of the Kaduna State High Court, Kaduna and charged him with one count of obtaining by false pretence.
Abdulrahim, investigation revealed, extorted money from victims through gift cards and bitcoins which he converted into naira using his bank accounts and e-wallets.
The one count charge reads: ” That you Abdulrahim Dangana “m” between January and September, 2021 in Kaduna within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court with intent to defraud obtained the total sum of $8,420.00 only from innocent victims when you falsely presented yourself as a white homosexual man on Grindr App (an online application) and in the assumed character blackmailed them that you will expose them to their families and loved ones which pretence you knew to be false and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1(1)(a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act 2006 and punishable under Section 1(3) of the same Act”.
The suspect pleaded not guilty to the charge when it was read to him.
Upon his plea, the prosecution counsel Nasiru Salele asked the court to fix a date for trial but the defence counsel, Solomon Otuwaga urged the court to release his client on bail.
Justice Khobo, thereafter granted bail to the defendant in the sum of N1, 000,000.00 and one surety in like sum who must be resident in Kaduna with valid means of identification (ID).
The case has being adjourned till December 2, 2021.