The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned Usie Otukpa Osang before the Federal High Court in Abuja over an alleged investment fraud involving AUD$8.4 million and US$3.6 million.
Osang was arraigned before Justice Obiora Egwuatu on an eight-count charge bordering on impersonation and obtaining by false pretence.
According to the EFCC, the defendant, who allegedly operated under the aliases Oscar Tyler and Ford Thompson, conspired with others still at large to obtain AUD$8,427,330.83 and US$3,639,462 from an Australian investor, Brian Jacques Creigh, Chief Executive Officer of Panacea Capital. The commission alleged that the money was obtained through false claims that Liquid Assets Group was a licensed cryptocurrency trading and investment platform offering high returns.
The anti-graft agency further alleged that between August and November 2021, Osang fraudulently obtained 19.806 Bitcoin, valued at about US$1.08 million, from the same victim through a Binance wallet as part of the alleged scheme.
The defendant pleaded not guilty to all the charges.
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Following his plea, prosecution counsel Christopher Mshelia asked the court to fix a trial date and remand the defendant, while defence counsel K. I. Shuaibu applied for bail.
Justice Egwuatu adjourned the case until July 14, 2026, for the hearing of the bail application and ordered that the defendant be remanded at the Kuje Correctional Centre.
