The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Monday, May 20, 2013 arraigned Damola Orimogunje before Justice Adeniyi Onigbanjo of Lagos High Court, Ikeja on a 16-count charge bordering on forgery and possession of fraudulent documents.
The defendant is a member of a syndicate of internet fraudsters who have defrauded innocent victims of valuables. Orimogunje severally portrayed himself as a Nigerian Police Officer; Chief Justice of Nigeria and Managing Director of Zenith Bank Plc to dupe his victims abroad. In the process, he reportedly raked in N4, 000,000 (Four Million Naira).
Count one of the charge reads, “that you, Orimogunje on or about the 24th day of December 2012, at Lagos within the Ikeja Judiciary Division knowingly made false documents titled “The Nigeria Police – Scam Report” with intent that it may be used or acted on as genuine to the prejudice of one Mrs. Andreas Nachtmann and one Mr. Andre Thys.
When the charges were read to him, he pleaded not guilty. Prosecuting counsel, Zainab Etu prayed the court for a trial date and that the defendant be remanded in prison custody. Defence counsel, Olanrewaju Ilori however asked the court to grant the defendant bail since he had earlier been offered administrative bail by the EFCC. He also pleaded that the defendant be remanded in EFCC custody.
Justice Onigbanjo, in his ruling, granted the defendant bail in the sum of N1million and two sureties in like sum. The sureties must be resident in Lagos and should provide three years evidence of tax payment. The sureties must be gainfully employed and should have landed properties in Lagos.
The judge adjourned the matter to December 10, 2013 for trial and ordered that the defendant be remanded in Ikoyi prison pending the perfection of his bail conditions.
