Benjamin Ikaa, the proprietor of McHarvey Capital Limited, along with Chidera Jonas and Ikaa Benjamin, faced charges from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Wednesday for their alleged involvement in a $1.6 million fraud. The EFCC disclosed this information through an official post on Wednesday. The accused were presented before Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court in Abuja, where the EFCC levied four charges, encompassing offenses related to pretense and money laundering.
One of the charges detailed that “Benjamin Okenna Ikaa (alias George; Gavrilovich; P.Aleksandra and Aaron Griffin), Chidera Jonas (at large) and Ikaa Ejike Benjamin (at large) on or about 20th December 2022 at Ugbowa, Abakpa Nike, Enugu, Enugu State within the jurisdiction of this honourable court with intent to defraud, did send electronic messages which materially misrepresent facts in your website mcharveycapital.com about cryptocurrency investment to one Monica Garcia upon which she relied and suffered financial loss in the sum of $1,501, 0352,000 (One Million, Five Hundred and One Thousand, Three Hundred and Fifty-Two United States Dollars) and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 14(2) of the Cybercrime (Prohibition Prevention, etc.) Act 2015.”
Ikaa, the sole defendant present in court, pleaded not guilty upon being informed of the charges.
Following this, Adachi Abel, the defense attorney, sought a brief adjournment, whereas Bamidele Akanmode, the prosecution attorney, requested a trial date and urged for the defendant's detention in the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) until a plea agreement could be reached. The defendant was subsequently remanded to the Kuje Correctional Center, and the case was adjourned until December 13, 2023, by Justice Nwite.