(NeWS): Man accused of impersonating Benue State Governor

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission ,EFCC, has arraigned Joseph Gabriel before Justice Lawal Akapo of the Lagos State High Court Ikeja for conspiracy, extortion and forgery. The EFCC said that Gabriel was arrested in 2014 following a petition that he impersonated the former governor of Benue State, Gabriel Suswam. The EFCC said Gabriel had attempted to extort money from some foreigners under the pretext of giving them contracts. The charged read in part, “That you, Joseph Gabriel, Augustine Akile (at large), and Victor Kayode (at large), on or about October 29, 2014, in Lagos, within the Ikeja Judicial Division, conspired to defraud one Abdulrahman Nocari of the United Arab Emirates by falsely representing to him that you are Gabriel Suswam, the Governor of Benue State, and falsely soliciting a false investment proposal in real estates, hospitality, tourism and oil and gas, which you falsely claim will accumulate 15 per cent interest to him.” When the charges were read, Gabriel pleaded not guilty. Akapo ordered that the defendant be remanded in the Kirikiri Maximum Prison pending his bail application. The case was adjourned till November 23rd 2015. Punch