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.

Sharp guy

Vicaboy:
Sharp guy

Hr got caught. Nothing sharp about that. Knowing naija he would pay all that money to efcc and still be jailed by someone who didn't get his cut