Biyere, was on September 20, sentenced to a 15 years imprisonment by Justice Mohammed Idris, after he was found guilty of , on a13 count-charge bordering on conspiracy, forgery of foreign cheques, attempt to export the forged cheques to a foreign country.
He was changed before a Federal High Court, Lagos, before the elevation of Justice Idris, to the Court of Appeal, by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), and the trial which lasted for 12 years.
In the new two count charge, marked FHC/L/66c/2018, the police alleged that the convict, had sometimes in July, 2017, fraudulently obtained the sum of N6 .5 million, from one Alhaji Abdullahi Ibrahim.
He was also alleged to have issued two First City Monument Bank (FCMB), of N3.5 million and N3 million respectively, to one IsaSaliu Akizo, which upon presentation for withdrawal, were returned due to insufficient fund in the convict’s account.
The offences according to the prosecutor, Mr. Henry Obazi, are contrary to and punishable under Section 1(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006. And section 1 (b)(i) of the Dishonoured Cheques (Offences) Act Cap 0.11 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
At the resumed of the matter on Thursday, neither the prosecutor, Mr. Obazi, nor the convict was in court.
Followed the absence of the prosecutor and the convict, presiding judge, Justice Oluremi Oguntoyinbo, ordered that the hearing notice be issued to the prosecutor and the convict.
Justice Oguntoyinbo consequently adjourned the matter till October 15, for the convict’s arraignment on the new charge.
Count one of the charge against the convict reads: “that you Jones Biyere ’m’ sometimes November, 2017 at Victoria Island in the Lagos Judicial Division, did by false pretence and with intent to defraud obtain the sum of Six Million, Five Hundred Thousand Naira (N6,500,000) from one Alhaji Abdullahi Ibrahim ’m’ and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 1(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006.
And count two reads: “that you Jones Biyere ’m’ on the 31“ day January, 2018, at Victoria Island in the Lagos Judicial Division of this Honourable Court did obtain the sum of Six Million, Five Hundred Thousand Naira (N6,500,000) by means of a First City Monument Bank Cheque No. 17310272 and No. 17310271 dated 31st January, 2017 to the tune of three million, five hundred Naira (N3,500,000.00) and three million Naira (N3,000,000.00) respectively issued in favour of one Isa Salihu Akizo which was presented for payment within a reasonable time and was dishonoured on the grounds that no funds or insufficient funds were standing to your credit in the bank on which the cheque was drawn and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 1(b)(i) of the Dishonoured Cheques (Offences) Act Cap 0.11 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004”.
