EFCC Press Release: Teenage Scammer, Accomplice Remanded For $40m Scam

Two fraudsters Tobechukwu Igbokwe (Alias David Prince)and his
accomplice Ifeanyi Obi who are alleged to have duped an America of
$40million are to remain in prison until December 3, 2013. Justice
Lawal Akapo of the Lagos State High, Ikeja on Monday October 28, 2013
remanded the duo in prison custody after they were arraigned by the
Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on a 12- count charge
bordering on forgery, conspiracy and obtaining money by false
pretences contrary to section 8(a) and 1(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud
and Other Fraud Related Offences Act No 14 of 2006.
Specifically, Igbokwe, 19 year-old secondary school leaver, was
alleged to have severally duped his victims, many of them foreigners
of huge amounts of money through the internet under fraudulent guises.
He allegedly worked in concert with Obi to dupe an American, Micheal
Silva of $40 million in an inheritance scam. Silva was made to believe
that Igbokwe and his accomplice had a huge inheritance which they
wanted to move to a foreign account for safe-keeping.
The victim was asked to send money to "process" the transfer and in
the process, he wired $40m in several installments through Western
Union Transfer to Igbokwe and Obi.
Igbokwe also confessed that he had duped other foreigners among them a
Tommy Bedwell- who lost $6,000 to him and Richard Hunt-$15,000.
One of the charges against Igbokwe and Obi reads: "Tobechukwu Igbokwe
(alias David Prince) (alias John Emma) sometimes in the month of
October 2011 at Lagos within the Ikeja Judicial Division with intent
to defraud obtained $800 (Eight Hundreds Dollars),$700(Seven Hundred
Dollars), $200(Two Hundred Dollars) $400(Four Hundred Dollars),
$200(Two Hundred Dollars), $300(Three Hundred Dollars), $500(Five
Hundred Dollars), $500(Five Hundered Dollars) $500(Five Hundred
Dollars) $200(Two Hundred Dollars); totalling $5,500 (Five Thousand
Five Hundred Dollars) which sum you obtained separately from Michael
Silva of the United States of America under false pretence that the
money represent part payment for processing inheritance funds due to
him as a beneficiary of the fund and which pretence you knew was
false".
When the charges were read to them, the defendants pleaded not guilty.
EFCC counsel, Fadeke Giwa prayed the court for a trial date and to
remanded the accused persons in prison custody.
However, counsel to the first defendant, D. A Omougbai asked for a
short date to file his bail application. Also, counsel to the second
defendant, D. A Eimuejel prayed the court to accept the bail
application he filed on behalf of his client.
Justice Akapo, however, adjourned the matter till December 3, 2013 and
ordered that the defendants be remanded in Kirikiri Maximum Prison,
Lagos.
Wilson Uwujaren
Head, Media and Publicity
31st October, 2013