Earlyface

Find the EFCC press statement below…
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The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission,
EFCC, on Thursday, October 30, 2014 arraigned an
undergraduate of the University of Benin, Kenneth
Rukewe Ebule before Justice E. F Ikponmwen of an
Edo State High Court, sitting in Benin- City on a 6-
count charge bordering on forgery, obtaining
money by false pretence and possession of
fraudulent documents.The accused person
allegedly duped Sabine Albert, a German, of the
sum of $12, 088, 75 through fraudulent claims.
Rukewe, 30, a final year student of Computer and
Statistics at the University of Benin, was arrested by
officials of a new generation bank on May 28, 2014 in
Benin City and handed over to the EFCC for further
investigation.
Troubles started for him when Albert alleged that
within two months after he had internet contact with
him, Rukewe fraudulently obtained the sum of $
12,088,75 (Twelve Thousand Eighty Eight Dollars and
Seventy Five Cents) from him.
Rukewe allegedly posed to Albert as an English
businessman on transit in Nigeria. He gave his name
as Bob Albert and told his victim that he had a
contract with a Nigerian company worth €1.200,
000.00 and that he needed a loan to facilitate a
transaction with the company. He promised to pay
back the loan and even doubled it because he was
sure of pulling through the transactions. He also told
Albert that he had complications and suffered a
robbery attack.
Rukewe also falsely told Albert that, a levy of of
N1,975,861 (One Million, Nine Hundred and Seventy
Five Thousand, Eight Hundred and Sixty One Naira
only) was imposed on him by the Federal Inland
Revenue Service for the release of his International
Passport, and a cheque worth 1, 200,000 Euros. He
also pleaded for a flight ticket to London.
Based on all these, Albert offered to loan him the
money by sending it through Western Union, only to
discover that he had been scammed.
Investigation also revealed that the suspect had
defrauded other German nationals to the tune of $
110,975.00USD (One Hundred and Ten thousand,
Nine Hundred and Seventy Five United States Dollars)
between May 2013 and January 2014.
When the charges were read to the defendant, he
pleaded not guilty.
One of the charges read in part:
“Ebule Kenneth Rukewe (a.k.a. Bob Albert), on or
about the 17th day of July, 2013 within the
jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, with Intent to
defraud, obtained the sum of $12,088,75 (Twelve
Thousand Eighty Eight Dollars and Seventy Five Cents)
from Sabine Albert (a German National), under the
false pretence that the money represented part
payment of N1,975,861 (One Million Nine Hundred
and Seventy Kobo) levy imposed one Bobby Albert (a
British citizen) by Federal Inland Revenue Service for
the release of the International Passport, Cheque
worth 1,200,000 Euros and flight ticket to London of
the said Bobby Albert, which representation you
knew to be false”.
In view of the plea of the defendant, prosecution
counsel, Kayode Oni asked for a trial date and prayed
the court to remand the defendant in prison custody.
The defence counsel, Maureen Morka informed the
court of her application for bail dated September 9,
2014 and prayed the court to grant the defendant
bail.
Justice Ikponmwen granted the defendant bail in the
sum of One Million Naira and two sureties in like
sum. The sureties must be resident in Benin City and
must be gainfully employed in Edo State. The
defendant must also produce his student identity
card.
Justice Ikponmwen subsequently adjourned the case
to November 21, 2014 for hearing and ordered that
the defendant be remanded in prison custody
pending the perfection of his bail.