The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has arraigned an undergraduate of the University of Benin, Kenneth Rukevwe Ebule, before an Edo State High Court sitting in Benin- City, for obtaining money by false pretence and possession of fraudulent documents. 
 
The 30-year-old accused, who is a final year student of Computer Science and Statistics at the institution, allegedly duped a German, Sabine Albert, of the sum of about $12, 088 through fraudulent claims
 
He allegedly posed as one Bob Albert, saying he was an English businessman on transit in Nigeria and that he had a contract with a Nigerian company worth €1.200, 000.00 but needed a loan to facilitate a transaction with the company.
 
Within two months, Ebule fraudulently obtained over $12, 088 from his victim, promising to pay back the loan and even doubled it because he was sure of pulling through the transactions.
 
Ebule later told Albert that a levy of about N1.9 million was imposed on him by the Federal Inland Revenue Service, FIRS, for the release of his  international passport and a cheque  worth €1, 200,000, but that he needed a flight ticket to London since he had suffered a robbery attack.
 
His victim offered to loan him the money by sending it through Western Union only to discover that he had been scammed.
 
EFCC’s investigation further revealed that the suspect had defrauded other German nationals to the tune of $110,975 between May 2013 and January 2014.
 
Ebule, was arrested by officials of a new generation bank on May 28, 2014 in Benin City and handed over to the EFCC for further investigation. 
 
When the charges were read to the defendant, he pleaded not guilty.
 
One of the  charges read, “Ebule Kenneth Rukevwe (a.k.a. Bob Albert), on or about the 17th day of July, 2013 within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, with Intent to defraud, obtained the sum of  $12,088,75 (Twelve Thousand Eighty Eight Dollars and Seventy Five Cents) from Sabine Albert (a German National), under the false pretence that the money represented part payment of N1,975,861 (One Million Nine Hundred and Seventy Kobo) levy imposed one Bobby Albert (a British citizen) by Federal Inland Revenue Service for the release of the International Passport, Cheque worth 1,200,000 Euros and flight ticket to London of the said Bobby Albert, which representation you knew to be false”.
 
In view of the plea of the defendant, prosecution counsel, Kayode Oni, asked for a trial date and prayed the court to remand the defendant in prison custody. 
 
The defence counsel, Maureen Morka, informed the court of her application for bail dated September 9, 2014 and prayed the court to grant the defendant bail.
 
Justice E. F Ikponmwen granted the defendant bail in the sum of N1 million and two sureties in like sum, who must be resident in Benin City and must be gainfully employed in Edo State.
 
The defendant must also produce his student identity card to get the bail.