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A Computer engineer has been docked at an Ikeja High Court for impersonating popular gospel artiste Lara George and defrauding three Americans $8,5000.
The man identified as Ayodeji Folarin, 24, is facing a four-count charge of obtaining money by false pretences and possession of documents with false information.
Famzn News learnt from that the charges were preferred against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Meanwhile, Folarin, a resident at No.2, Folarin Street, Obada Oko in Abeokuta Ogun, denied the charges.
The Prosecuting counsel to the EFCC Temitope Banjo told the court that the defendant perpetrated the fraudulent acts between January and December 2016.
Banjo said, “While posing as Lara George and with the intent to defraud, he obtained the sum of $8,500 from Trevor Dawe, Rick Cuewo and Stephen Wilson who are all citizens of the United States of America.
“On June 2018, Folarin had in his possession, a World Lottery Organization Winning Certificate and Affidavit of Common Law Marriage which all contained false pretences.
“The defendant also had in his possession emails containing false pretences.”
The EFCC prosecutor said the offences contravened Sections 1 (3), 6 and 8(b) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offence Act 2006.
But, Folarin’s defence counsel, Samuel Shodipo, pleaded with the judge to grant the defendant bail after his denial.
The judge, Justice Obafemi Adamson, however, shunned the plea and ordered that the defendant be remanded at the Ikoyi Prisons.
Adamson further directed that the case be filed and taken to the Court Registry for reassignment to another judge for hearing.