Former Cross River governorship candidate, Wilfred Bonse, found himself at the center of legal proceedings after a Federal High Court in Abuja ordered his remand over alleged cybercrime. The court’s decision came following his arraignment by the Nigeria Police National CyberCrime Centre, as revealed in a statement by Force PRO Olumuyiwa Adejobi on Monday.
Bonse, a resident of Flat 6 Block 9, Aso Garden Estate Karsana, Abuja, faced charges related to conspiracy to commit computer-related fraud, money laundering, and other offenses amounting to N50 million, contravening sections of the Cybercrime (prohibition, prevention, etc.) Act, 2015, and the Money Laundering (prevention and prohibition) Act, 2022.
The former Cross River governorship candidate, who ran on the platform of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) in 2023, found himself embroiled in allegations of financial fraud connected to Patricia, a cryptocurrency firm, which reportedly suffered a significant loss of approximately N2 billion due to a security breach last year.
According to Adejobi, Bonse’s arraignment represents a crucial step in the pursuit of justice concerning Patricia’s security breach and serves as a testament to the Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Centre’s unwavering commitment to combating cyber and financial fraud.
The court’s ruling mandated Bonse’s remand at a correctional facility pending the next hearing, underlining the seriousness of the allegations against him. Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kayode Egbetokun reiterated the Force’s dedication to upholding the law and ensuring justice, directing the National Cybercrime Centre, led by CP Uche Henry, to continue pioneering efforts in combating cyber-enabled crime in line with global best practices.
Bonse’s arrest last November stemmed from allegations of involvement in a money laundering conspiracy linked to the fraudulent diversion of N607 million from Patricia, further underscoring the severity of the charges against him.
