EFCC docks man posing as spirit over N20m fraud





The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), yesterday, arraigned one Mohammed Yusuf Dabo before a Federal High Court, Gusau, Zamfara State, on charges of obtaining by false pretenses after he posed as a spirit and allegedly defrauded his victim of N20 million.
A statement by the EFCC spokesman, Wilson Uwujaren, said the accused was docked before  Justice Zainab Abubakar of the Federal High Court, Gusau, on 11 count charge of obtaining under false pretence and forgery to the tune of N20 million.
“The accused, between November 2012 and January 2013 defrauded one Ya’u Mohammed to the tune of N20 million in a classic advance fee fraud scheme. The fraudster, posing as a spirit named ‘Asmau’, based in Niger Republic, convinced his victim into believing that the mystery female voice had powers to establish schools and mosques but needed a human vessel through which this could be achieved,” the statement added.
He allegedly forced the victim to accept the offer of being the human vessel after threatening him that he either obeyed the voice of the spirit or died.
The accused person subsequently began to extort his victim and used the money to buy exotic cars and acquire a mansion in the Kabuga red bricks area of Kano.
The accused pleaded not guilty after the charge was read to him.
The presiding judge refused the bail application of the accused and ordered the prosecution to call its first witness.
The case was adjourned to 12th and 13th June, 2013 for continuation of trial, the statement said.



daily trust