Lagos — An alleged fraudster, Chukwuemeka Chukwuedo, was yesterday charged with duping an American of 10,000 dollars (N1.5 million) before an Ebute Meta Chief Magistrate's Court in Lagos.

Chukwuedo, 29, is standing trial on a 16-count charge of conspiracy, impersonation, stealing and forgery.

The prosecutor, Inspector Eshiet Eshiet, told the court that the accused and others at large on March 2, duped one Howard Kuklin, an American, of $10,000 under the pretext of winning a lottery.

Eshiet explained that the victim was deceived into parting with the money under the pretext that it was a service charge for processing the 3.5 million dollars he won in a lottery.

The prosecutor said the police during investigations also discovered that Chukwuedo and his accomplices engaged in other similar scams to swindle other foreigners

Eshiet added that the accused also forged a letter head of the Federal Ministry of Finance, purportedly signed by Dr. Mansur Mukhtar, the former minister dated August 6, 2009.

He said the letter was addressed to one Mr. Conrad Walker with the intent that it might be acted upon as genuine to the prejudice of addressee.

The prosecutor said the offences were committed at No. 4, Jamiu Odusote Street, Ikorodu, Lagos.

The accused, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges. Mrs. Oyindamola Ogala, the Chief Magistrate, granted the accused bail in the sum of N2 million with two sureties in like sum.

Ogala adjourned the case till May 7 for further hearing.