Three persons, including a pastor, were yesterday, arraigned before  an Ikeja High Court  in Lagos for allegedly defrauding  one Mrs Rose Bello of  N7.7 million.

The trio, Rev. Akanji Kehinde, Enoch Idris and Amuzie Oku-Ani, were dragged before the court by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.

The accused persons are facing a six-count charge, including fraud and conspiracy to commit fraud.

Counsel to the EFCC, Cosmas Ogwu, alleged that the accused persons and one Edwin Onyuku, now at large, collected various sums of money from Bello between May and June 2008.

NFA contracts

According to NAN reports, Ogwu further alleged that it was under the pretext of assisting the victim’s company, BVM Productions, to secure a contract with the Nigerian Football Association, NFA.

He told the court that they collected the money in five installments of N1.1 million, N1 million, N1.2 million, N3.5 million and N850, 000, respectively.

The three accused, he claimed, perpetrated the fraud using Communication Development Company Ltd, M.T Olives and Stephen Ltd, and Utex Nig. Ltd as fronts.

According to him, the offences contravened Sections 8 (a) and 1(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act No. 14 of 2006.

However, the accused persons pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Presiding Justice Olabisi Akinlade ordered that the accused persons be remanded in prison custody and fixed November 18 for ruling on their bail application.