The pair were arraigned on Monday by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) before Justice S. M. Shuaibu of the Federal High Court in Benin, Edo State, on a two-count charge each of impersonation, according to a statement released by the anti-graft agency’s spokesman, Wilson Uwujaren.
The defendants were accused of scamming two females in London in 2019 by sending them electronic mails and defrauded them of £10,000 and £5,491,23.
Section 14 (2) of the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention, and Other Measures) Act 2015 is said to make their actions punishable.
One of the charges against one of Joshua’s alleged impostors reads, “that you Onyekwe Joshua Chinedum (a.k.a Anthony Joshua) sometime in 2019 did with intent to defraud sent electronic messages which materially misrepresent facts to Samantha Johnson, a lady in London which messages she relied upon and which made her suffer financial loss in the sum of £10,000 thereby committing an offence punishable under section 14 (2) of the Cybercrime (Prohibition Prevention, Etc) Act 2015.”
One of the charges against Ukhuriegbe Glory Irekpitan reads: “That you Ukhuriegbe Glory Irekpitan sometime in 2018 did with intent to defraud sent electronic messages which materially misrepresent facts to Mrs Zahra Bagun, a lady in London which messages she relied on and which caused her to suffer the financial loss in the sum of £5,491.23 pounds, the equivalent of N2,306,220 and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 14(2) of the Cybercrime (Prohibition Prevention, Etc) Act 2015.”
The defendants, on the other hand, have pleaded not guilty to the accusations brought against them.
I.M. Elody, the prosecution’s attorney, requested a trial date and that the defendants be placed in the custody of the Correctional Service, while the defendants’ counsel argued with the court to remand them in the custody of the EFCC.
The case was postponed until October 21 by Justice Shuaibu.