EFCC arraigns fake oil traders for N13m scam

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Press Release

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) today arraigned the duo of Muhammed Abubakar Alfa and Franklin Uche before Justice Dije Aboki of Kano High Court on a 39-count charge bordering on conspiracy, possession of fake document and obtaining by false pretence.

The accused persons allegedly defrauded one Ambassador Abdullah Musa, a Libyan, of the sum of N13, 000,000.00 (thirteen million Naira).

The duo were said to have met their victim through one of his Nigerian business associates, a certain Muktar Ahmed, and sold to him, via telephone, a proposal to supply him crude oil from Nigeria. The unsuspecting Ambassador received an invitation letter to come to Nigeria to close the deal.

During the visit, the accused persons allegedly presented the victim with documents sourced from relevant agencies. Impressed, Musa invited the 1st accused (Muhammed Alfa) to his base in Tunisia, where another round of meeting was held.

Consequently, the deal was sealed. Thereafter, the sum of N13, 000,000.00 (thirteen million Naira) was paid into Muhammed Abubakar Alfa’s account domiciled in one of the old generation banks in Nigeria.

After waiting for months without receiving any crude oil from the accused persons, it became obvious that he had been duped.

One of the counts in the charge reads, “ that you Muhammed Abubakar Alfa and Franklin Uche on or about 5th day of November, 2012 in Kano within the judicial Division of the High Court of Justice of Kano State with intent to defraud did invite Abdullah Musa Hamd Bashir to visit Nigeria for the purpose of alleged crude oil business which resulted into obtaining the sum of N13,000,000.00 (thirteen million Naira) under false pretence from him through his agent one Muktar Ahmed Muhammed  and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 4 of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006”.

The accused persons pleaded not guilty when the charges were read to them. Attempt by counsel to the 2^nd accused, John Nwoke to present an oral bail application for his client was refused by the trial judge, who remanded the accused persons in prison custody.

Wilson Uwujaren

Head, Media & Publicity