One Igweneme Moses who was arrested for an alleged $240,700 Romance scam by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and was on Tuesday July 23, 2019 arraigned before Justice A. T Mohammed of the Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
The alleged Romance Scam fraudster, was arraigned on a four-count charge bordering on conspiracy and money laundering contrary to Section 18 and punishable under Section 15(2) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (As amended).
According to the statement released by the anti-graft agency, Mr Moses was docked for defrauding a Swiss, the sum of $240,700 (Two Hundred and Forty Thousand Seven Hundred American Dollars) though several criminal disguises of love and promise of marriage.
One of the count charges read: “That you, Igweneme Moses and Igweneme Nkiruka Blessing (now at large) between the 18th and 24th May, 2018 directly took possession of the sum of $38,000 (Thirty Eight Thousand US Dollars) which you knew or reasonably ought to have known is the proceeds of an unlawful act, to wit: obtaining money under false pretences from one Chantal Helene Meadery and thereby committed an offence contrary and punishable under Section 15(2) of the Money Laundering( Prohibition) Act, 2011( as amended)”. It reads.
He pleaded not guilty when the charges were read to him.
In view of his plea, Prosecuting Counsel, A. Osu, prayed the court to fix a date for commencement of trial. However, Counsel to the defendant, C.V Oforleta made an oral application for bail of his client to enable him prepare for his defence. The application was, however, turned down by the judge who ordered him to place a formal application for bail before the court.
Justice Mohammed ordered that the defendant’s case file be transferred to a vacation judge pending his formal bail application. He also ordered that he should be remanded in prison custody.