Man posing as Uduaghan on Facebook in court

I ‘m not guilty, he says

A 27-year-old graduate of Accountancy from Delta State Polytechnic, Ogwashi-Uku, Mr. Philip Urieh, was yesterday arraigned before an Asaba Chief Magistrate’s court on a four-count charge of impersonating Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State on the social networking site, Facebook, thereby defrauding some unsuspecting members of the public.

The charges read: that you, Philip Onos Urieh (male) and others at large sometime in January 2013 at Asaba in the Asaba magisterial district, conspired among yourselves to commit a felony to wit, defrauding members of the public by impersonating Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, Governor of Delta State and thereby committed an offence punishable under sections 422 and 516 of the Criminal Code Law cap C.21 volume I, Laws of Delta State of Nigeria, 2006.

That you Philip Onos Urieh (male) sometime in January 2013 at Asaba in the Asaba magisterial district obtained by fake pretence the sum of N562,000 from one Alex Roy Omoni.

The sum of N2.8 million from one Felix Usih and the sum of N200,000 from one Jerry Odugula and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 419 of the criminal code law cap. C.21, volume 1, laws of Delta State of Nigeria, 2006.

That you, Philip Onos Urieh (male) sometime in January 2013 at Asaba in the Asaba magisterial district cheated Alex Roy Omoni, Felix Usih and Jerry Odugula of their monies by fraudulently tricking them to believe that you would link them up with the Delta State governor and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 421 of the criminal code law cap C.21 volume 1, laws of Delta State of Nigeria 2006.

That you, Philip Onos Urieh (male) sometime in January 2013 at Asaba in the Asaba magisterial district impersonated Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, governor of Delta State with intent to defraud and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 484 of the criminal code law cap 2.21 volume I, Laws of Delta State of Nigeria, 2006.

He pleaded not guilty to all the count charges and was, however, admitted on bail with stringent conductions.

He is to provide N500,000 plus a surety, who would either be in the local government, state or federal service, and not less than level 16.

The surety, according to the court, must swear to an affidavit of means, submit two passport photographs and also produce his pay slip.