Obinwanne Okeke, who is held by American authorities for alleged $11 million fraud, has been remanded in prison after pleading not guilty to two counts of wire and computer fraud at his first hearing on Monday.
KanyiDaily had reported that the 31-year-old Nigerian entrepreneur was arrested the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) on August 6 in Alexandria, Virginia, and slammed with two counts of computer and wire fraud.
Mr. Okeke, better known in Nigeria as ‘businessman’ Invictus Obi was subsequently taken before a court at about 2 p.m.on Monday, September 16, 2019.
The presiding judge at the Newport News, Virginia, federal courthouse, declared the case as “complex,” but said Mr. Okeke should be remanded in prison until February 18, 2020, when the trial would continue.
The appearance came a week after a federal grand jury examined the evidence gathered by the F.B.I. and presented by the United States Department of Justice and found Mr Okeke guilty as charged and recommended him for trial.
Upon conviction, the jury also said Mr Okeke should be made to forfeit at least $11 million in asset and an emerald shaped diamond engagement ring found on him when he was first arrested by federal agents as he was about leaving the U.S. on August 6.
The Monday’s appearance marked the commencement of Mr Okeke’s criminal trial since he was arrested and remanded in custody of the U.S. Marshals Service more than a month ago.
