Court Remands Two Men Over Alleged N150m Fraud
Police from the Special Fraud Unit (PSFU) Lagos, Thursday, arraigned two middle-aged men before Justice Akintayo Aluko of a Lagos Federal High Court, for allegedly defrauding seven businessmen of the sum of N150 million.
The two alleged fraudsters, Divine Nonso Chukwuma, Hameed Babaolobi and one Adio Moses said to be at large, were alleged to have falsely posed as importers of computers, phone and their accessories to dupe their unsuspecting victims.
When the defendants’ arraignment came up Thursday, the prosecutor, Mr. Chukwu Agwu, told the trial judge that he has a pending charge before the court and pleaded that the charge be read to the defendants so that they can take their plea.
Upon reading the charge, the defendants pleaded not guilty to the eight counts.
According to the PSFU, in a charge numbered FHC/L/330c/2021, the two defendants and one Adio Moses Adedohun, said to be at large, were alleged to have between the months of March and August 2021, in Lagos State and Ilorin, Kwara State, conspired among themselves to commit felony by obtaining the sum of N150 million each, from Damilola Ajibike, Akinsanya Akinwale, John Bassey, Olubo Ayodeji, Uzoma Convidence Ogochukwu, Vitor Abia Ekanem, Amole Damilola and others, by false pretences through thier FCMB account number 5359314018 and First Bank account number 3104626738 on the understanding that they are importers and distributors of mobile phones, accessories, computers and computers’ accessories and other related goods from the United states of America (USA) and that they will supply the said items within few weeks on the receipt of the money from their victims, a representation they knew to be false.
The offence committed were said to be contrary to section 1(1) (a) (b) and (c) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Relates Offences Act , 2006, No. 14 of 2006 and punishable under section 1 (3) of the same Act.
Following the defendants’ not guilty plea to the charges, the prosecutor, Chukwu Agwu asked the court to remand them in Ikoyi Correctional Center of the Nigerian Correctional Services (NCoS), pending the hearing and determination of the charge.
Agwu further asked for a trail date.
However, counsel to the first defendant, Ngozi Akandu while conceding to a trial date, told Justice Aluko that he has just been briefed about the matter and would be filing the bail application for the first defendant shortly, he appealed to the court for a short adjournment.
In his own submission counsel to Babaolobi “second defendant”, Mr F I T Aliyu told the court that he has filed the bail summons for the second defendant, but conceded that the prosecution is within time to react to the application under the rule.
Aliyu urged the court for a short adjournment.
In his short ruling, Justice Aluko ordered the remand of the two defendants at the facility of the Nigerian Correctional Services (NCoS), Ikoyi and adjourned till February 19, for the hearing of the bail application of the second defendant and March 2, 2022 for the commencement of trial.
