The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, yesterday arranged a suspected fraudster and member of a syndicate, Edward Abiodun before the Gombe High Court, Gombe, for impersonation, among other crimes.

The accused and his accomplices, Murtala Bello and Esther Momoh, who are now at large, had allegedly duped one Umar Bello posing as officials of the EFCC.

Umar alleged that Bello had on March 13, 2015, called him asking for N10 million to “kill” a purported petition lodged against him.

Thereafter, Bello forwarded the phone number of Momoh, who falsely claimed to be a Principal Detective Superintendent, PDS, with EFCC to the victim to discuss on the payment procedures.

The complainant further claimed that the suspects offered to accept 300,000 naira after he admitted he could not meet the initial N10million charges requested.

Umar also alleged that one Laolu Adegbite, who disguised as an officer handling the purported case, sent him an SMS on March 19, 2015, summoning him to appear before the commission on March 23, 2015.

He claimed that due to continued threats by the members of the syndicate, he paid the sum of N50,000 into Abiodun’s bank account which he received from Momoh on March 25, 2015.

The victim petitioned the EFCC after he was terrified by the persistent threat from the syndicate over the balance of N250,000 and the agency swung into action and eventually arrested the accused person.

The accused, however, pleaded not guilty when the charge was read to him.

In view of his plea, the prosecution counsel, Zarami Muhammad, asked for a trial date and prayed the court to remand the accused person in prison custody.

The defense counsel, Micheal Ofoma, did not oppose the prayer for a trial date by the prosecution counsel.

Upon hearing both counsel, Justice Beatrice Iliya adjourned the case to October 26, 2015 for hearing of bail application but ordered thatthe accused person be remanded in prison custody.