The trial of an alledged Benin Republic Based fraudster, Salami Mufa has commenced before Justice Abimbola Awogboro at the Federal High Court, Lagos this is as the prosecuting police officer, Mr Henry Obasi led the fraud victim, Hajia Shefia O. Malik in evidence as the first Prisecution witness
Men from the police Special Fruad Unit , (FClD, Ikoyi, Lagos had in the year 2020 filed a two count criminal charge against Salami Mufa.
According to the charge , Mufa and others at large were alleged to have sometimes on or before September and October 2016 at Lagos conspired among themselves to commit felony by obtaining money under false pretenses, thereby committed an offence punishable under section 8 (a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and other Fraud Related Offences Act 2006.
The defendant, Salami Mufa and others still at large were also alleged to have by false pretence and with intent to defraud obtained the sum of fifteen million, seven hundred and sixty thousand naira N15,760,000 from one Sefia O. Malik thereby commited an offence punishable under section 1(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and other Fraud Related Offences Act,2006.
However, the defendant pleaded not guilty to the charge.
At the commencement of trial on Thursday, Shefia Malik while being led in evidence by the prosecutor, Mr Henry Obiazi told the court presided over by Justice Abimbola Awogboro that she is a businesswoman and deals in the sales of foodstuffs like rice, vegetable oil, beans and gari.
Shefia told Justice Awogboro that her ordeal in the hand of Mufa and his alleged co- fraudstars started in 2015 when somebody by name Olowo, an agent, called from Cotonuo, Benin Republic saying someone has a large quantities of rice to sell and would like an off taker to buy all at once.
The witness said Olowo now liked her through telephone calls to the defendant whom Olowo claimed was the owner of the rice and both bargained the price for the rice.
She added that after agreeing on the price, the defendant sent four different bank account details to her for the remittance. ” The accounts are domiciled in Diamond bank and First Bank Plc, ” she said.
The witness said she remitted a total sum of N15, 776,500 in about six traches to the accounts.
After remitting the money, Shefia said no good was supplied and neither did she hear from Olowo again, at this point , the witness said she started suspecting a woman called Dagan whom she is owing N4,000,000 as being the brain behind the fraud.
Consequently, Shefia said she became depressed and was taken to the hospital, adding that at that point she was only fighting for her survival .
While on hospital bed Shefia said some of her customers who gave her the money she invested into the project took her to court alleging that she Shefia has dupped them and was consequently jailed for two years .
Shefia said why she was been rushed to the hospital , she instructed her husband to ensure he reported the matter to the police, adding that she was on the hospital bed at Federal Medical Centre, FMC, Abeokuta, when news got to her that the defendant has been arrested while trying to withdraw money from the account at Seme border.
When I was invited to the Zone 11 Police Station to come and see if the defendant was the actual culprit that took money from me, as he initially denied knowing me or having anything to do with me as he claimed to be a Bureau De Change operator who knows nothing about rice business, but it was later discovered that he is the actual culprit.
While investigation was going on , someone called me from Zone 11, that Salami was giving the investigating team N2,000,000 and that the account that was initially frozen by the police has been de- freeze, I went there and on getting to Zone 11, I was shouting the names of the Investigators and the Assistant Inspector General of Police in charge of the Zone heard my shout and sent for me.
On getting to the AIG, I narrated all that happened to him and he asked me if he should constitute another team of investigator for me, but I said no, that I want my case transferred to the Interpol section .
When asked by the prosecutor, Obaizi to state what happened to the other members of the syndicate she paid money into thier accounts , Shefia said they refused to transact on the account immediately they learnt that Salami Mufa has been arrested. She however, told the court that one of them named Adeyemo had just been arrested by the Economic and Financial Crime Commission for another fraud related crime.
Meanwhile, Justice Awogboro has adjourned the matter till November 10, 2021 by noon for continuation of trial.
The two counts charge against the defendant Reads: That you Salami Mufa m’ and others still at large sometimes on or before September October, 2016 at Lagos within the Jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did conspired amongst yourselves to commit felony to with, Obtaining Money by False Pretences and thereby committed an
offence punishable under Section 8 (a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and other Fraud Related Otfences Act, 2006
Count two : That you Salam Mufa ‘m’ and others stilt at large on the same dates, place and within the Junsdiction of this Honourable Court did by false pretence and with intent to defraud obtain the sum of Fifteen Million, Seven Hundred and Sixty six Thousand Naira (415,766,000 00) from one Shefia 0. Malik ‘f’ and thereby committed an offence pun shable under Section 1 (3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006.
