EFCC Arrests Two Nigerian For Duping A Nurse Of About €61,500(N13.5m)

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has arrested two suspected fraudsters, Gabriel Xavi, a.k.a. Collins Page and Cyril Aikhaituamen, for fleecing a Belgian nurse, Goryczka Janina.

The EFCC spokesman, Wilson Uwujaren, said the suspects met the 49-year-old nurse on Facebook and were able to trick her into parting with €61,500, about N13.5m...




Uwujaren said, “The victim allegedly met one of the accused persons sometime in January, 2014. He introduced himself as Collins Page, a Croatian engineer resident in Wigan, England.

“Within days of their meeting, Page contacted her with the story that he was in Nigeria to supervise a construction project in Edo State and that he was having difficulty with his credit card as it had been blocked for security reasons.

“He solicited Janina’s assistance for cash. Goryczka sent him money until she had transferred a total of €61,500 through one Emmanuel Okoh, based in Cape Town, South Africa, Junior Best and Cyril Ojiemen.”

It was gathered that when Page kept pressurising the victim for more money, she confided in a friend who told her that she might have fallen into the hands of scammers.

The victim subsequently contacted the police in her country, who in turn contacted the EFCC after preliminary investigation.

The duo of Xavi, aka Page and Aikhaituamen were arrested by the EFCC and arraigned before Justice E.F. Ikponmwen of the Edo State High Court, Benin, on charges bordering on conspiracy and obtaining money under false pretences.

While Xavi was slammed with 12 counts, Aikhaituamen was dragged to the court on six counts.

Two charges read in part, “That you, Gabriel Xavi (a.k.a. Collins Page), Aikhaituamen Junior, Ojiemen Cyril (still at large) and Emmanuel Okoh (still at large), sometime between January and February 2014, at Benin, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, with intent to defraud, conspired to obtain money by false pretences from Janina Goryczka, offences contrary to and punishable by Section 1(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act, 2006.

“That you, Gabriel Xavi (a.k.a. Collins Page) and Emmanuel Okoh (still at large) on or about the 31st day of January, 2014, at Benin, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, with intent to defraud, obtained the sum of €40,000 from Janina Goryczka on the false representation that you were a Croatian engineer handling a road construction project in Edo State, Nigeria, and the money was for purchase of equipment and materials towards the project, which representation you knew to be false.”

The duo, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges after they were read to them.

The prosecuting counsel, G. K. Latono, prayed the court to remand them in prison custody.

Counsel to the first accused person, P. E. Onobun, and counsel to the second accused, C. N. Dike, prayed the court for a short adjournment to enable them file applications for bail.

Justice Ikponmwen adjourned the case till December 8, 2014 for consideration of bail applications. He ordered that the defendants be remanded in prison custody.