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Fake Ambodes attempt withdrawing N50m from LASG account

Akinwunmi Ambode

Sesan Olufowobi

Two artisans – Rilwanu Jamiu and Balogun Oyewole – have been nabbed for allegedly cloning the  mobile line of the Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, and attempting to withdraw N50m from the state government’s account.

It was gathered that the suspects, who claimed to be cocoa dealers, allegedly attempted to perfect a N50m transfer through the mobile line of the governor, which they had cloned.

An officer of the Department of State Services, Mr. Peter Okerinmodun, said, “The duo used the cloned mobile line of the governor to send a text message to the Accountant General of the state requesting a transfer of N50m.”

The officer stated that the ruse was, however, detected and the two men were arrested by the DSS, adding that others, who connived with them to commit the crime, were at large.

The artisans were arraigned on Wednesday before an Isolo Magistrate’s Court on two counts bordering on the alleged offence.

Okerinmodun, who was also the DSS prosecutor, told Chief Magistrate Adeola Adedayo that the suspects were arrested after using the cloned mobile line, but had yet to get the N50m.

The charges read, “That you, Rilwanu Jamiu of Giwa Street, Oka Akoko, Lagos, and Balogun Oyewole of Unity Street, Ikotun, Lagos, and others at large, on February 10, 2016, at about 10.02am, in the Lagos Magisterial District, conspired to commit felony to wit: obtaining by false pretences, thereby committing an offence punishable under Section 312 (2) and (3) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State.

“That you, Rilwanu Jamiu, and Balogun Oyewole, of the above named addresses, and others at large, on the same date, time and place, fraudulently cloned the Glo line of the Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, with intent to induce him by false pretences, used the Glo line to send a text message for the transfer of a sum of N50m, thereby committing an offence punishable under Section 312 (2) and (3) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State.”

The accused pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The prosecutor asked that they be kept in protective custody pending the outcome of the legal advice of the Directorate of Public Prosecutions, pointing out that their lives could be endangered by other suspects who were on the run.

Adedayo, however, admitted them to bail in the sum of N1m each with two sureties each in like sum, adding that one of the sureties must be a religious or a community leader within the jurisdiction of the court, and that the accused must provide five years’ tax certificates.

She ordered the accused to be remanded in the Kirikiri Medium Prison pending the perfection of their bail, and adjourned the matter till May 10, 2016.