EFCC Arraigns Man for Allegedly Duping an Irish Businesswoman of €53,000
Kehinde Faleye
Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Tuesday arraigned Tonwerigha Oyintonbra Tombrown alias Michael Freeman and his company, Yoshinaka Corporation, before Justice A. O. Faji of the Federal High Court, sitting in Asaba, Delta State on a 34-count charge bordering on obtaining by false presence.
Tombrown is alleged to have duped an Irish businesswoman, Izabela Glogowska of over €53,000 (fifty three thousand pounds) through internet scam.
According to Glogowska, the petitioner, Tombrown posed as a prominent online trader, Michael Freeman, to hoodwink her to part with her money.
Count one of the charge reads:
“That you, Tonwerigha Oyintonbra Tonbrown alias Michael Freeman, Yoshinaka Corporation, on or about the 8th day of May, 2015, at Warri, Delta State, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, with intent to defraud, did represent yourself as one Michael Freeman a famous online trader and obtain the sum of Five thousand, Eight Hundred Euro’s (£5800) from Izabela Glogowska under the false pretence that you were going to pay the said sum into Izabela Glogowska’s Perfect Money account, a pretence 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 said Act.
Another count reads:
“That you, Tonwerigha Oyintonbra Tombrown alias Michael Freeman, Yoshinaka Corporation, on or about the 11th day of May, 2015, at Asaba, Delta State, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, with intent to defraud, did represent yourself as one Michael Freeman a famous online trader and obtain the sum of Four thousand, Three Hundred Euro’s (£4300) from Izabela Glogowska under the false pretence that you were going to pay the said sum into Izabela Glogowska’s Perfect Money account, a pretence 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 said Act.
The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charge when it was read to him.
In view of his plea, the prosecuting counsel, S. Hussaini asked the court to fix a date for the commencement of trial and that the accused person be remanded in prison custody.
Counsel to the defendant, I. B. Azago made an oral application for bail which was refused by the court. He was asked to make a formal application for bail.
Justice Faji adjourned the case to January 23 and 24 2017 and ordered the defendant to be remanded in prison custody pending the determination of his bail.