Justice A.R. Mohammed of a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, has remanded one David Iornem at the Kuje Prison for allegedly operating an illegal University.

Iornem was arraigned on Thursday by the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offenses Commission, ICPC, on a three count charge bothering on fraudulent collection sums amounting to $17,300 from three unsuspecting persons.

The accused person promised to help his victims secure admission at the Commonwealth University, Belize, a fake institution run by him to enable them achieve their dream of owing a doctorate degree.

The offence committed is contrary to Section 1(1) and punishable under Section 1(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006.

Those who fell victim of the accused person are the former Vice Chancellor of the University of Ilorin, Is-haq Oloyede, AkinkuotuAlbert Oluwatoyin and Jamilu Rabiu Sani.

However, when the charges were read, Iornem pleaded not guilty and filed an application for bail through his counsel, J.I Abagu.

Prosecution counsel, Ebenezer Shogunle, did not object to the bail application. He told the court that the commission was ready to bring its witnesses to prove its case against the accused and asked for a short adjournment.

Justice Mohammed admitted the accused to bail in the sum ofN100,000 with one surety in like sum who must be a civil servant in the employment of the federal government or any of its agencies.

He added that the surety must swear to an affidavit of means and drop his recent passport with the court registry.

The trial judge, however ruled that the accused person be remanded in Kuje Prison until he satisfies his bail condition.

The case was adjourned to September 19 for commencement of trial.

The three count charge reads:

“That you, David Iornem, (m) on or about the 4th  day of July, 2012 at Abuja,  with intention to defraud, attempted to obtain the total sum of $11,550 (Eleven thousand, five hundred and fifty Dollars) from one Professor Is-haq Oloyede by falsely representing yourself to be “Professor David Iornem” and solicited payment of the said sum of $11,550 (Eleven thousand, five hundred and fifty Dollars) from Professor Is-haq Oloyede for the award of an academic doctorate degree of COMMONWEALTH UNIVERSITY, BELIZE when you know that the said Commonwealth University, Belize is a fake and unaccredited university owned and operated by you, and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 8(b) and punishable under Section 1(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006.”

“That you, David Iornem, (m) on or about the 21st  day of January, 2013 at Abuja, with intention to defraud, obtained the sum of $5,000 (Five thousand United States Dollars) from one AkinkiotuAlbert Oluwatoyin by falsely representing yourself to be ‘Professor David Iornem’ and pretending to offer admission to the saidAkinkuotu Albert Oluwatoyin to pursue a  degree of doctor of philosophy in management of the COMMONWEALTH UNIVERSITY, BELIZE when you know that the said Commonwealth University Belize is a fake and unaccredited university owned and operated by you and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1(1) and punishable under Section 1(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related offences Act, 2006.”

“That you, David Iornem, (m) on or about the 23th May, 2013 atAbuja, received the sum of $800 (Eight hundred Dollars) from oneJamilu Rabiu Sani as application form fee and good faith deposit for admission into COMMONWEALTH UNIVERSITY, BELIZE when you know that the said Commonwealth University Belize is a fake and unaccredited university owned and operated by you and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1(1) and punishable under Section 1(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006.”