The Abuja Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Thursday, September 7, 2023, officially returned seized assets to Cheryldene Cook, an American victim of fraud perpetrated by Aisosa Kelvin Ohue, also known as Frederick Leonard.
The property, which includes the sum of N19,000,000,000 (Nineteen Million Naira), a three-bedroom semi-detached duplex in Ward 36A Amagba Community, Oredo Local Government Area, Edo State, a Lexus E350 saloon car, an iPhone 13 Pro Max, and a Samsung A31 phone, were handed over to Ms. Cook in Abuja.
The presentation was conducted by ACE I Adebayo Adeniyi, the Zonal Commander, and ACE II Jimoh Rauf, the Head of Advanced Fee Fraud Section 1.
Cheryldene Cook, who travelled from the United States of America to receive the recovered items, was accompanied to the EFCC by her lawyer, Dr. Mike Nwosu.
She expressed her gratitude to the EFCC for their efforts in recovering the assets.
The forfeiture of these properties was ordered by Justice C.E Nwecheonwu of the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Kuje in January.
The order came after Ohue was convicted on a three-count charge related to obtaining money through false pretences. The charges included an elaborate love scam in which Ohue pretended to be the famous actor Frederick Leonard to deceive the victim, Cheryldene Cook.
Count one of the charge against Ohue stated: “That you, Aiosa Kelvin Orhue (AKA Frederick Leonard), sometime in 2021, in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of the Honourable Court, by false pretense and with the intent to defraud, obtained the sum of N104,000,000 (One Hundred and Four Million Naira) from one Cheryldene Cook.
“You represented yourself as Frederick Leonard, professing love and the intention to marry her, which you knew to be false. This act constitutes an offense contrary to and punishable under Sections 1 (1)(a) and 1 (3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006, respectively.”
Stay ahead with the latest updates! Join The ConclaveNG on WhatsApp and Telegram for real-time news alerts, breaking stories, and exclusive content delivered straight to your phone. Don’t miss a headline — subscribe now!
