The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Maiduguri Zonal Command on Wednesday, arraigned Tope Jimi Fagun before Justice Aisha Kumaliya of the Borno State High Court, Maiduguri on a-two count charge of impersonation and obtaining N70million by false pretence.
Fagun allegedly presented himself as Pastor Ize Iyamu to Alhaji Bukar Dalori and fraudulently induced him to deliver the said N70million under the pretext that the money was meant to aid the All Progressives Congress 2020 gubernatorial election campaign in Edo State.
Count one reads: “That you, Tope Jimi Fagun sometimes between July and August, 2020 in Maiduguri, Borno State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court and with intent to defraud induced the Borno State Chairman of All Progressive Congress Party (APC), one Alhaji Ali Bukar Dalori to cause the gross sum of Seventy Million Naira (N70,000,000.00) only (both in Naira and Dollar currencies) to be delivered to you in cash and via Bank transfers into Access Bank account number 0693630685 and First Bank account number 3053942408 under the false pretence that the said sum was to be utilized in promoting the APC campaign activities in the Edo State 2020 gubernatorial election which fact you knew to be false, thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under sections 1(1)(b) and 1(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006 respectively.”
The second count reads: “That you, Tope Jimi Fagun sometimes between July and August, 2020 in Maiduguri, Borno State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court falsely personated Pastor Ize Iyamu, the then All Progressive Congress (APC) gubernatorial candidate in Edo State 2020 gubernatorial election and in such assumed character induced the Borno State Chairman of All Progressive Congress Party (APC), one Alhaji Ali Bukar Dalori to cause the delivery unto you the gross sum of Seventy Million Naira (N70,000,000.00) only (both in Naira and Dollar currencies) with the view to enriching yourself fraudulently and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under sections 179 of the Penal Code Law Cap 102 Laws of Borno State.”
When the charge was read to Fagun, he pleaded ‘not guilty’ to the offence.
Prosecuting EFCC lawyer, Alqasim Jafa’ar, asked the court to remand Fagun n prison and fix a date for trial to commence.
But the defence lawyer, Alli Apanisile, informed the court of a pending application for bail of his client which has been duly served on the prosecution. He urged the court to allow him to move the application for bail.
Justice Kumaliya however declined the prayer of the defence.
She thereafter adjourned the matter till November 24, for hearing of the bail application and commencement of trial. The judge also ordered that Fagun should be remanded in the Correctional Facility.
