The Federal High Court, Lagos, yesterday ordered the remand of an alleged Nigerian internet fraudster, Kayode Philip, aka Voice of the King and his Lebanese accomplice, Hamza Koudeih, aka HK, over alleged multimillion dollars internet fraud.
Kayode and Hamza are to be remanded in prison till December 5, when their bail applications would be heard and determined.
Justice Sule Hassan ordered the remand of the accused persons after their plea was taking on 25 counts charge of conspiracy, phishing, spamming and unlawful conversion leveled against them by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
In the charge, the two defendants were alleged to have sometimes in May 2019, conspired among themselves to unlawfully convert the sum of $7, 069 million, £1 million and €80,000, which were proceeds of unlawful act.
They were also accused of attempting to retain the sum of $700,000 in multi currency account No. 012-611-2-009379-4 domiciled in Bank of China (Hongkong) Limited in the name of Pung Shen Technology Trading Co. Limited, which the sum form part of the proceed of frauds.
They were also alleged to have sometimes in the months of July and October, 2019, unlawfully retained the sum of £1 million and £3.5 million in a multiple currency account number 012-968-2-002658-3 domiciled in Bank of China (Hongkong) Limited in the name of HongKong Zhongli Industrial Co. Limited.
Philip, who was charged in all the 25 counts counts, was alleged to have unlawfully retained the sum of N30, 250 million in various bank accounts belonging to Influx Computer and Hardware Limited and DAKOTA Entertainment Limited.
The offences according to the prosecutor, Mr. A. O. Muhammad, are contrary to sections 18(a), 15(2)(d), 18(c) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2015 and punishable under section 15(3) of the same Act.
The offences also contravened sections 27(1)(b), 28(2), 32(2) and 33(9) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention etc)Act,2015 and punishable under section 32 (2) of the same Act.
Read Also: IPPIS: ASUU Says FG Can’t Frighten Them With Salary Threats
The defendants pleaded not guilty to the charge. Upon their plea of not guilty, the prosecutor urged the court to remand them in prison custody, while also asked for a date for trial.
Lawyers to the defendants, Oludare Falana and Hamid Muhammad, informed the court that they were not opposing the request for trial date, but told the court that they have filed their clients’ bail applications and same have been served on the prosecution.
Falana and Muhammad also told the court that the prosecutor was yet to respond to their application. They, therefore, urged the court for a short date to hear the applications.
Hassan adjourned the hearing and determination of defendants bail applications till December 5, and fixed January 14, 15 and 16, 2020 for hearing of the matter.
THE SUN, NIGERIA