MICHAEL AKINOLA
A suspected fraudster, Ewulum Chimeze Felix, has been arrested and charged in Lagos State for allegedly swindling a victim, Nnochiri Chiedozie Boniface, to the tune of N23.5m over visa procurement.
P.M.EXPRESS reports that the suspect, Felix, was arraigned by the Lagos Zonal Directorate 1 of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC on 11-count charge bordering on obtaining money by false pretence, stealing, possession of fraudulent documents and forgery to the tune of N23,500,280.
He was charged before Justice Mojisola Dada of the Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos and remanded in custody over his alleged conduct.
According to the charge, Mr. Felix promised to procure visa documents for the complainant but reneged on his promise after collecting the money from the complainant.
Thus, the matter was reported to the EFCC. The operatives moved into action, eventually arrested the defendant and detained him for interrogation over his alleged conduct.
After interrogation, the EFCC found him culpable and charged him before the High Court for the alleged offence, which attracts several years of imprisonment.
One of the counts read: “EWULUM CHIMEZE FELIX (Trading Under the name and style of Slenzy Ventures), sometime in 2024 at Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, with intent to defraud, obtained the sum of N18,038,000.00 (Eighteen million Thirty-eight Thousand Naira only) from Nnochiri Chiedozie Boniface by falsely representing that the money was for procurement of United Kingdom visa and work permit, a representation you knew to be false”.
Another count read: “That you, Ewulun Chimeze Felix, on or about 10th March, 2025 at Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, with intent to defraud, had in your possession several fraudulent documents, one of which is a forged Florida Driver’s licence with the name “VOJTISEK ADRIENA” ,which you presented to unsuspecting victims, a representation you knew to be false”.
However, he pleaded not guilty.
The prosecution counsel, M. B. Isha, asked the Court to give a trial date to enable the EFCC to prove that he actually committed the alleged offence and also urged the court to remand the defendant at a Correctional Centre pending his trial date.
The defence counsel, Michael O. Nwigbo, however, informed the court of a pending application for bail for his client, and also prayed for a short date for the hearing.
The presiding judge, Justice Dada, adjourned the matter till 17th June, 2025, for the commencement of trial and also ordered the custodial remand of the defendant pending his trial.Thus, the defendant was remanded in custody at the correctional center pending his trial without an option of bail.