By Ikechukwu Nnochiri

ABUJA—The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, yesterday, charged Abiodun Akorede, A.K.A. Kwesi John Mensah; and Sherif Ajaga, A. K.A. Rowland Komolafe, before a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, for attempting to dupe Senator Tunde Ogbeha.

The accused pleaded not guilty to the charge before Justice Hussein Baba.

According to a statement by Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, Head, Media and Publicity at EFCC, the accused were arrested by operatives of the commission, following a petition by Senator Ogbeha, alleging an attempt to defraud him with a non-existent transaction.

The retired army general allegedly received a telephone call on December 5 from one Morris Williams, who claimed to be a staff of World Wide Organisation.

Williams was said to have told the petitioner that his company was ready to award him (the complainant) the sum of £10,000,000 for his consignment that was mishandled by an unnamed courier company.

Williams was also said to have told the complainant that one Mr. Kwesi Mensah and a certain Mr. Rowland Komolafe would meet him in Nigeria to deliver the money.

There was, however, a caveat. He would pay the clearing and service fee of £11,000.

Though he was not expecting any consignment, the petitioner told the accused persons that his driver would pick them on arrival in Nigeria to his Abuja office for further discussion.

It was during the meeting at his office that the accused were handed over to EFCC.

One of the charges read: “That you Akorede, Ajaga, and others still at large on or about December 5, 2014, in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this court, with intent to defraud one General Ogbeha, did attempt to obtain £11,000 under the pretence that the said sum was meant for clearing charges for a non-existing transaction.

“Which pretence you knew to be false and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 8(b) of the Advanced Fee Fraud and Other, Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006 and punishable under Section 1(3) of the same Act.”

Justice Baba ordered that the accused persons be remanded in Kuje Prison and adjourned their trial to January 20, 2015.