A suspected fraudster, Okomanyi Adams of No.5, Agbaja Street, Ososami, Ibadan, Oyo State, has been remanded in prison custody, Ilorin for allegedly defrauding a man of N1, 760,300.

The order to remand the accused was made by an Ilorin Magistrate Court, before which he appeared on a four- count charge of criminal conspiracy, cheating by personating, obtaining money under false pretense and advance fee fraud.

The accused was indicted following a complaint on March 14 at State Intelligence Bureau (SIB), Nigerian Police, Ilorin by one Agboola Ibiwoye of No. 1, Station Road, GRA, Ilorin, that the accused swindling him.

According to the victim, on March 12 at about 1:30pm, he received a phone call with number 009447011132566 which the caller claimed to be one Dr. Arayomi, his family doctor from United Kingdom.

The victim stated further that the caller told him that he ( fake doctor) is relocating to Nigeria and he needs the assistance of the victim to receive his medical equipment which has been cargoed and due for collection.

The victim added further that the caller linked him with some of his syndicate whom he introduced as staff of a cargo company.

He alleged further that they criminally collected the sum of N1, 760, 300 from him through First Bank account number 3066783199 with David Julius as account name, Diamond Bank account number 0028423518 with Prince Godwin Adeoye as account name and Access Bank Account Number 0058310124 with Bamigbose Toyese Bukunmi as account name sent by the MTN number 08133855398, before he later discovered that it was a fraudulent transaction.

The Police First Information Report (FIR) on the matter revealed that the accused was arrested while he was trying to withdraw some money from the First Bank account.

The FIR further revealed that the accused confessed that him with one Odunayo and Samson, who are now at large are members of a syndicate of fraudsters who specialized in defrauding innocent citizens of their hard earned money through impersonation.

The FIR added further that the offence committed by the accused contradict Sections 97, 324 of Penal Code and 1 (3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related offences Act Cap A6 Law of the Federation of Nigeria.

The prosecutor, Inspector Mojisola Olamokun objected to the bail of the accused and urged the court to remand the accused in prison custody pending the outcome of investigation.

She submitted further that if the accused is granted bail, he might jump bail which would tamper with police investigation.

The Judge, Magistrate Qudus Salahu upheld the submission of the prosecutor and ordered that the accused be remanded at the Federal Prison, Oke- Kura, Ilorin, until April 17 when the case would come up for further mention.