17th November, 2022
Two Abuja men, Ijeboi Dennis (aka Andrew Tran Huynh) and Obade Monday Christian (aka FBI Commander/Diplomat Director) have been arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC for obtaining the sum of $2.8 million from an American, Holy Ngo under the pretense that they are U.S doctors stranded in Afghanistan.
They allegedly committed the crime working with Ekhoguagbon Osazuwa Patrick (aka Patrick Paul) who is still at large and Omage Emmanuel Omole(now deceased) between January 2021 and September 2021, in Abuja.
Dennis and Christian were arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC before Justice Abubakar Baba Shani of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Apo, Abuja on a five count- charge bordering on conspiracy and obtaining the sum of by false pretense on Thursday.
Counsel to the defendants, S.T Sanni attempted to abort the planned arraignment of the defendants on Thursday as he informed the court that the defendants only received the charge and proof of evidence on Wednesday, November 16, 2022
But his objection was overruled by the judge, who ruled that the prosecution had complied with Section 35 of the Constitution by producing the defendants in court, and ordered that, arraignment of the defendant should proceed.
Count two of the charge against the defendants reads, “That you, Ijeboi Dennis (aka Andrew Tran Huynh), Obade Monday Christian (aka FBI Commander/Diplomat Director), Ekhoguagbon Osazuwa Patrick (aka Patrick Paul)(still at large) and Omage Emmanuel Omole(now deceased) between January 2021 and September 2021, in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, with the intent to defraud, obtained an aggregate sum of $2,8822,860.00(Two Million, Eight Hundred and Twenty Two Thousand, Eight Hundred and Sixty United States Dollars) from Holy Ngo, a United States Citizens under the false pretense that you are American doctors stranded in Afghanistan, which 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.”
They pleaded not guilty to the charges.
In view of their pleas, prosecution counsel, Christopher Mshelia, prayed the court to set a date for trial and remand the defendants in the custody of a Correctional Facility.
But Sanni urged the court to allow the defendants in the custody of the EFCC pending determination of their bail application.
Justice Baba Shani remanded the defendants at the Suleja Correctional Facility and adjourned the matter till January 11, 2023 for trial.