Police arraign cryptocurrency marketer over alleged N51.7m fraud

The Lagos State Police have charged a cryptocurrency salesman, Temitope Longe, before a Federal High Court in Lagos with acquiring N51,789,222 through deception and fraud.Information Guide Nigeria

Longe appeared before Justice Tijjani Ringim for the alleged crimes committed by personnel of the Police Special Fraud Unit in Ikoyi, Lagos.

Mr Justin Enang, the PSFU’s prosecutor, informed the court that the cryptocurrency operator and others who are still at large committed the crimes in Lagos sometime in 2017.

Enang testified in court that the defendant got N25,894,711 from one Dr. Abiodun Adefunrin under the false pretense of investing it in cryptocurrencies and FX trading.

He also told the court that the defendant fraudulently got N25,894,711 in Francis Aremu’s property and transferred it to his personal use.NYSC portal

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According to the prosecutor, the offenses committed violated Sections 8(a) and 1(1)a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006, and were penalized under Section 1(3).

He further informed the court that the offense violated and was penalized under Section 15(2)(b) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act of 2011, as amended in 2012.

The defendant, on the other hand, pleaded not guilty to the charges leveled against him.

Following the defendant’s plea, the prosecutor requested a trial date and asked the court to confine him in the custody of the Nigerian Correctional Services until the accusations against him were resolved.

However, the defendant, through his attorney, appealed with the court to grant him release on the most lenient terms possible.

His attorney informed the court that his client was a first-time offender with bailable offenses.

After hearing the counsels’ arguments, Justice Ringim admitted the defendant to bail in the sum of N20 million with two sureties in the same amount.

The Judge also specified that one of the sureties must be a public servant at or above Grade Level 14.

Justice Ringim ruled that the defendant be detained in NCS custody until he can meet the bail requirements, and the matter was delayed until March 30, 2023, for trial.JAMB Result

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