Lagos — A 27-year-old man, Abiola Ayanlaja, was arraigned, yesterday, before an Ikeja High Court by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, for allegedly defrauding an Australian woman of N952,785.

Ayanlaja was arraigned before Justice Adeniyi Onigbanjo for 18-count charge bordering on obtaining money by false pretence, forgery and uttering.

The EFCC prosecuting counsel, Mr Francis Usani, told the court that the defendant had conspired with one Michael Atireme and one Chidi both at large to swindle the woman, Flora Veith of $6,147 (N952,785), some time in March 2009 and May 2011.

He alleged that they falsely represented to her that she had won $1.3 million in a lottery and that the sum would be used for facilitating the payment.

Usani said that the defendant forged a document entitled "Guarantee" which was purportedly issued by a former Chairman of EFCC, Mrs Farida Waziri.

He further alleged that Ayanlaja also forged another document which was purportedly issued by the Chairman of National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, Alhaji Ahmadu Giade.

He said these documents were used by the defendant to facilitate the fraud.

However, when the charges were read, he pleaded not guilty while Justice Onigbanjo granted him bail in the sum of N500,000 with two sureties in like sum.

The matter was further adjourned to June 13, 2013 for trial.