“Yahoo boy” dupes online Swiss lover of N6.5million
The EFCC, on Tuesday, arraigned one Leeroy Egebe on an 8-count charge bordering on conspiracy and obtaining money by false pretence to the tune of $18,023 (N6.5million).
Egebe was said to be parading as Amedeo Dante William and Alhassan Davide to dupe unsuspecting victims on a social app.
One of Egebe’s victims, Vivian Varotto-Guigoz, a citizen of Switzerland, petitoned the EFCC alleging that she met one Amedeo William Dante (Egebe) who claimed to be an Italian living in the United Kingdom on a social dating site called “Badoo”.
They became lovers, exchanging emotions, and later, cash.
Vivian said on several occasions, between 12 May and 14 October, 2015, she wired a total sum of CHF 196,701,44 and EUR 15, 957.43 to different individuals in the United Kingdom, Canada and Nigeria at the request of Dante, for sundry reasons which she later discovered to be fraudulent.
The payments were allegedly made in five installments: two into British accounts belonging to Amedeo William Dante and Dittimi Tamara-Finide while three were made into Nigerian accounts belonging to Alhassan Davide and Edin Obaro.
Vivian also alleged that the defendant was reaching her through some English, Canadian and Nigerian telephone numbers.
Egebe, who was arraigned before Justice E. A. Obile of the Federal High Court, sitting in Warri, Delta State, pleaded not guilty to the accusations.
In view of his pleas, the prosecution counsel asked the court to fix a date for the commencement of trial.
Egebe’s counsel, Alufe, made an oral application for bail for his client. He argued that the alleged offences were bailable and that the defendant did not jump an earlier administrative bail by the prosecution.
Justice Obile granted Egebe bail in the sum of N3million, with one surety in like sum.
He said the surety must be a public servant in the service of Federal or Delta state government on grade level 12 and above.
The case was adjourned to 10 May, 2018 for trial, while Egebe was remanded in prison custody pending the perfection of his bail conditions.
