Oghenekevwe Innocent remanded in prison for USD 1.138 million internet fraud

PORT HARCOURT, Rivers, Nigeria – A Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State  has remanded in prison custody a suspected fraudster,  Oghenekevwe Innocent Akinnawo (a.k.a Rodriguez Filiberto,  Richard Welburn and Scott  Mendez).

He was remanded, following his arraignment on Thursday , March 7, 2019 on a seven-count charge bordering on obtaining money by false pretence to the tune of $1, 138,000.

Akinnawo ran into troubles when he was arrested by operatives of the Economic And Financial Crimes Commission, #EFCC,  Port Harcourt’s Zonal Office on  alleged fraudulent activities ranging from love scam on numerous dating sites,  obtaining money by false pretences and swindling two Americans: Lucille De  Mattos and Patricia Hawks on a phony oil shipment deal. .

Count One of the charge read:  That you Oghenekewe Innocent Akinnawo, ( aka Rodriguez Filiberto, Richard Welburn and Scott Mendez) and Theresa Thornton ( at large) sometimes in February in 2018 at Port Harcourt within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did conspire among yourselves to do an unlawful act to  wit:  obtain money under false pretence from one Lucille De Mattos, an American citizen and thereby committed  an offence contrary to Section 8(a) and  punishable under Section 1( 3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006. The defendant pleaded “not guilty” to the charges when read to him. .

Prosecution counsel,  A. Arogbha told  the court that he was  ready  for trial and prayed  for a trial date.  However,  defence counsel,  Reuben Wanogho made an application for  bail but could not  be  heard  because Arogbha  told the  court that  he was  served  the application late  and needed time to  respond to it.

Justice Mohammed Sanni thereafter adjourned the matter  to March 13, 2019 for the hearing of bail application and remanded the defendant in prison custody. He also adjourned  commencement of trial to April 8 and 11,  2019.