Ishida is charged with one count each of impersonation, retention of criminal proceeds, and money laundering by Justice Hauwa’u Buhari of the Federal High Court in Kaduna State, according to a post made by the antigraft agency on its X page on Tuesday.

Ishida was taken into custody in Jos, Plateau State, along with other members of an online fraud ring, when agents from the EFCC’s Kaduna Zonal Command conducted an intelligence-driven raid.

According to the agency, the defendant set up fraudulent dating websites and online video content in order to trick gullible people.

Subsequent inquiries revealed that he received the money from his crime in the form of gift cards, which he exchanged for foreign currency online via an FSS card app. He then converted the foreign currency to Naira and deposited it into his bank accounts.
The charge against Ishida stated: “That on or about June 2, 2024, in Jos, within the jurisdiction of this honorable court, you, Audu Ishida (Baddie Kylemilli), retained the total sum of $50 USD from your victim, which you reasonably ought to have known forms part of the proceeds of an unlawful act, thereby committing an offence contrary to Section 20(a) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, and punishable under Section 20(b) of the same Act.”

But in response to the accusation, he entered a “not guilty” plea.
The defendant was to be detained in the care of the Nigerian Correctional Service, and prosecution attorney M.E. Eimonye asked for a trial date. The request was not opposed by Umar Usman, the defense attorney.

The trial was postponed to November 7, 2024, by Judge Buhari, who also ordered Ishida to be placed under remand in the Nigerian Correctional Centre in Kaduna.