According to Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Thursday 27th April, 2017, arraigned one Onuoha Danhessy Akachukwu (alias Joe Dickson) before Justice J.K. Omotosho of the Federal High Court, sitting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State on a 6-count charge bordering on Conspiracy and Obtaining Money by False Pretense to the tune of Five Thousand Two Hundred and Sixty American U S Dollars ($5,260).
Onuoha Danhessy Akachukwu (alias Joe Dickson) is alleged to have used false Facebook accounts to defraud one Maria Jose Alvarez, an American of the sum of Five Thousand, Two Hundred and Sixty American U S Dollars ($5,260). The defendant who claimed to be an American Engineer based in the United Kingdom hoodwinked his victims by establishing a romantic relationship which according to him, will lead to marriage.

One of the counts reads: ‘’that you Onuoha Danhessy Akachukwu (alias Joe Dickson) sometimes between 2015 and 2016, at Port Harcourt, Rivers State, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable court, with intent to defraud, did obtain the sum of Two Thousand, Three Hundred and Seventy US Dollars ($2,370) from one Maria Jose Alvarez (an American) Via Money Gram which you transferred into your account number 3071174186 domiciled with First Bank Plc under the pretence that you are Joe Dickson an American Engineer based in the United Kingdom willing to marry her, a pretext which you knew to be false, and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1 (1) (a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006 and punishable under Section 1 (3) of the same Act.

Another count reads ‘’that you Onuoha Danhessy Akachukwu (alias Joe Dickson) and others now at large, sometimes between 14th August, 2015 to 19th August, 2015, at Port Harcourt, Rivers State, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable court, with intent to defraud, did obtain the sum of Two Thousand Eight Hundred and Ninety US Dollars ($2,890) from one Maria Jose Alvarez (an American) Via Money Gram which you transferred into your account number 3071174186 domiciled with First Bank Plc under the pretence that you are Joe Dickson an American Engineer based in the United Kingdom willing to marry her a pretext which you knew to be false, and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1 (1) (a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006 and punishable under Section 1 (3) of the same Act.

The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charge when it was read to him. In view of his pleas, the prosecution counsel, R.E. Alao asked the court to fix a date for trial.
With the defense counsel absence in court, Justice Omotosho adjourned the matter to the 18th day of May, 2017 for hearing and ordered that the defendant be remanded in prison custody.

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