A court in Kaduna has heard how a Nigerian man, Alyassau Muhammad posed as a white Lady Aisha and scammed a Malaysian of RM 16, 300.00, an equivalent of almost $4,000.
Information released by the EFCC showed that Muhammad infiltrated a Malaysian WhatsApp group to scout for his victim.
However, his cup has run fulleth as the EFCC has arraigned him in a Kaduna court, accusing him of romance scam or cat fishing.
The case was brought before Justice Hannatu A.L Balogun on Tuesday.
Muhammad was slammed with a two count charge bordering on obtaining money by false pretence.
EFCC said Muhammad Alyassau was arrested following intelligence on his fraudulent activities on the internet.
Posing as a female Malaysian muslim, Lady Aisha, he induced Nor Rahem to send money in tranches of foreign currencies into his nominated account 154110205463 in Maybank.
His account name at the bank was Hafizan Hamid.
Investigation revealed that Muhammad had three different active Malaysian WhatsApp numbers in his phones which were also linked to a telegram group dominated by Malaysians.
It was in the group that he scouts for would-be victims.
Count one of the charge reads, “That you, Alyassau Muhammad, (M) between May and August, 2021 in Kaduna, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, with intent to defraud, obtained the total sum of RM 16, 300.00 (Sixteen Thousand Three Hundred Malaysian Rinngit) only from one Nor Rahem Mohd Jani when you falsely presented yourself as one Lady Aisha ( a Muslim White Lady) and claimed to be in love with him, 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”.
He pleaded ‘not guilty’ to the charge.
In view of his plea, the prosecution counsel, M.E Eimonye urged the Court to fix a date for the commencement of trial.
But the defence counsel, Abdulhakeem Audu moved an application for the bail of his client.
Justice Balogun granted bail to the defendant in the sum of N2 million and two sureties in like sum.
One of the sureties must be a civil servant in Kaduna State with a valid means of identification, while the other must have a landed property in Kaduna
The case was adjourned till 29 September for hearing.
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