A NIGERIAN cheated a businessman out of US$50,000 (HK$386,600) claiming he would use the money to clean US$50 million in defaced US banknotes, a court heard.
Magistrate Yung Yiu-wing was told 37-year-old Isaka Momodu, claiming he was from the Central Bank of Nigeria, approached Tridjojo Tirta between July 7 and 16.
Momodu allegedly said he was authorised to remit US$50 million in defaced notes from the bank to Hong Kong and asked Mr Tirta to give him money to buy the material to clean them.
In a separate case Thomas Omar, 34, Gregory Nnamdi Oputa, 29, and Samuel Okoye, 35, are charged with conspiracy to defraud after asking Yuen Ka-pak for US$220,000 to buy a similar substance.
No pleas were entered and all the men were remanded in custody until August 10.