PDP Guber Aspirant Who Demanded N21m Nomination Form Refund Arraigned For N50m Fraud

The Nigeria Police National Cyber Crime Centre has arraigned a former Cross River governorship candidate, Wilfred Bonse, in the Federal High Court Abuja over alleged computer-related fraud to the tune of N50m.

The spokesperson of the Police, Muyiwa Adejobi, in a statement on Monday, revealed that the politician residing in Abuja was arraigned on February 1.

Bonse who contested the Cross River governorship election in 2023 on the platform of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), was first arrested in November 2023, in connection to the security breach and financial fraud suffered by Patricia, a cryptocurrency firm.

The police said his arraignment followed a clinical investigation of his alleged involvement in a case of conspiracy to commit money laundering contrary to sections Section 14(1) of the Cybercrime (prohibition, prevention, ETC) Act 2015, Sections 20(a)(b) & 21(a) of the money laundering (prevention and prohibition) Act, 2022.

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The statement reads, “The arraignment was a step further in the pursuit of justice in the investigation of Patricia’s security breach.

“The case is also a boost to the relentless efforts of the Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Centre to combat cyber and cyber-enabled crime and financial fraud in the country and beyond.

“The court ruled that the suspect be remanded at the correctional facility until the next date of hearing.”

The statement added that the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun has directed the Force National Cybercrime Center under the leadership of Commissioner of Police, Uche Henry to keep aligning with global best practices in combating cyber and cyber-enabled crime in its dynamics.

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“In order to continually sustain the tempo of the fight against Cybercrimes, or for any inquiries or sharing information with the centre, members of the general public are urged to contact us via policecyberunit@npf.cybersecurity.gov.ng,” the statement added.

In May 2022, Track News Online reported that Bonse withdrew from contesting the 2023 governorship election under the Peoples Democratic Party in Cross River State, demanding a refund of N21m used to purchase forms.

Bonse had linked his demand to “unfair treatment” from the party to deny him participation in the governorship primary in Cross River.