A man tried to eat a forged bank draft valued at $56.5 million when arrested by gardai, it was alleged in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court in the fraud trial of five men.
Prosecuting counsel Mr Patrick Gageby SC told the jury that the bank draft taken from Mr Christian Obumneme's mouth was "a bit chewed but still discernible". Mr Gageby was opening the trial of five men accused of a fraud conspiracy involving over $143 million in forged bank drafts.
Three of the men are Nigerians and two have English addresses. They are alleged to have been seeking multimillion dollar payments from two businessmen in exchange for some of the drafts.
Mr Gageby said one of the accused, Mr Obiora Uzodike, had purchased a bank draft under an assumed name. This draft was used to facilitate the attempted frauds. The accused men had also set up a company to facilitate the attempted fraud.
The men deny the charges.
Mr Gageby said Mr Terry Smith, from Louisiana, had flown to Ireland on the promise that he would get $32 million of Nigerian government money.
Mr Smith met two of the accused and went with them to get the money. They told him there was a problem and he would have to pay $2 million.
Mr Gageby said Mr Smith "smelled a rat" and went to the Garda. Some 10 or 12 days later a German businessman, Mr Heinz Althoff, flew to Ireland after he was promised that he would get $56.5 million in Nigerian government money in exchange for $2.825 million of the takings.
Mr Gageby said Mr Althoff went to the Bank of Ireland, College Green, to get the money with two of the accused, Mr Thomas Anthony O'Brien and Mr Obumneme.
Gardai followed the three men to the bank and arrested the two accused. Mr Gageby said Mr Obumneme tried to eat the draft but was stopped by gardai, who then arrested the remaining members of the group in followup swoops.
The accused are: Mr Christian Obumneme, (35), Prussia Street, Dublin; Mr Thomas Anthony O'Brien (61) of Kent Walk, London; Mr Raymond Folkes (38) of Dunstans Road, London; Mr Achike Okigbo (26), Blessington Street, Dublin; and Mr Obiora Uzodike (29) of Oakcourt Avenue, Palmerstown.
The hearing continues.