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By Christopher Oji
Justice Abike-Fadipe of the Special Offences Court, Ikeja, Lagos, yesterday, issued a warrant for the arrest of Ekweozor Peter, a suspected internet fraudster, for failing to appear in court for his arraignment.
He was arrested alongside others on May 13, 2024, following credible intelligence received by the Commission about the alleged criminal activities of a syndicate of internet fraudsters operating at the Indy-Pool Hotel, ldowu Street, Ajegunle, Olodi Apapa Lagos .
Investigation revealed that he opened fake Facebook and Instagram accounts and falsely represented himself as a female pornstar from Atlanta, United States of America, with a view to defrauding unsuspecting users of the internet.
During investigation, the defendant was granted an administrative bail and was scheduled to report at the Lagos Zonal Directorate 1 of the EFCC, at some specified dates.
Upon conclusion of investigation, a charge was preferred against him before the court.
At the scheduled sitting yesterday,prosecution counsel, Ayanfe Ogunsina, told the court the Commission’s efforts to re-arrest the defendant, since he jumped the administrative bail granted him and owing to this, he could not be brought before the court for arraignment.
“ Efforts to reach the two persons who stood as sureties for him have also been futile, as they too have absconded. My Lord, the defendant is aware that a charge has been filed against him and he is on the run to evade arraignment and trial”, he said.
Ogunsina consequently, filed a motion ex-parte seeking an order of the court to issue a warrant of arrest against the defendant.
Ruling on the application, Justice Fadipe held that,“the application is granted as prayed”.
The case was adjourned till June 18, 2025, for further proceedings.
