The Nation Newspaper

Tag: defrauding

  • Agent remanded for ‘defrauding’ 125 accommodation seekers of N25m

    An Ebute Meta Magistrates’ Court in Lagos yesterday remanded a 39-year-old estate agent, Ibrahim Ayinde, in prison custody for alleged N25million fraud.

    Ayinde was alleged to have defrauded 125 persons on the pretext of providing them with accommodation.

    Magistrate Mrs. O.A. Olagbende, who gave the order, said Ayinde should stay in Ikoyi prison for one week for failing to evict the tenants in the building within the time specified by the court.

    At the resumed proceedings yesterday, Ayinde told the court that his lawyer was absent.

    He said he failed to carry out the order because he got it late.

    At the last proceedings, Magistrate Olagbende had ordered that the defendant should evict the tenants pending the conclusion of the matter in court.

    The magistrate, who was not pleased with the defendant’s excuses, ordered his remand in prison custody for one week.

    She said the defendant should comply with the order after his release from prison.

    Ayinde, however, pleaded for mercy, saying he had started paying some of the complainants. He promised to finish paying them by end of May.

    The magistrate, however, rejected his plea for leniency, insisting that he would spend one week in Ikoyi prison.

    “When you return, you will go and evict the tenants living in the house as ordered by the court”, she said.

    Ayinde is standing trial on a 125-count charge bordering on conspiracy and stealing.

    He denied the charge preferred against him by the Lagos State Government.

    Police prosecutor Mrs. Clara Olagbayi had told the court that the defendant committed the offence in Agege between May and July, 2017.

    She alleged that Ayinde collected N25million from 125 persons for a 14-flat apartment in Agege.

    Trouble started when the unsuspecting victims started bringing in their belongings after paying fully for the apartments.

    She said they met other persons in the apartments despite that they were given a complete set of key to the house.

    Magistrate Olagbende adjourned the matter till April 11.

     

  • Fraudster convicted of defrauding bank denied bail

    Fraudster convicted of defrauding bank denied bail

    A serial fraudster, Emmanuel Nwude, who was convicted in 2005 of defrauding a Brazilian bank of $242million, was yesterday denied bail by a Special Offences Court in Ikeja, Lagos.

    Justice Mojisola Dada declined bail for Nwude the second time in a fresh forgery case brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

    The defendant was denied bail by the court, which ordered his remand at Kirikiri Prisons last Friday.

    The court yesterday refused the bail application of the defendant despite his claim that he needed to undergo a surgery for a prostate-related ailment.

    EFCC had arraigned Nwude at the court alongside two lawyers, Emmanuel Ilechukwu and Roland Kalu for allegedly forging legal documents of a property forfeited to victims of a crime through judgment.

    Ruling on Nwude’s bail application, Justice Dada held: “Although the ailment the defendant is suffering from is a serious one, no material fact has been placed before the court to put weight behind the application.

    “It is also worthy of note that from the criminal records of the defendant, he is a convict, thereby rendering him a high flight risk.

    “If granted bail, he will not stand trial.

    “The defendant should, therefore, be remanded in prison custody pending the outcome of the trial.”

    The EFCC prosecutor, Rotimi Oyedepo, had opposed Nwude’s bail application.

    He asked the court not to grant bail on the grounds that the defendant posed a huge flight risk.

    “The crime the defendant was convicted of affected the integrity of Nigeria in the international community.

    “We ask the court to grant accelerated hearing,” Oyedepo said.

    Justice Dada thereafter ordered that Nwude be remanded in prison and adjourned the matter till March 14 for trial to begin.

    Nwude and co-defendants had pleaded not guilty to a 15-count charge of conspiracy, forgery, making documents without authority, dealing with forfeited property without authorisation and transfer of forfeited property to nominees.

    Other offences for which they were charged include: making false statement to a public officer, conspiracy to pervert the course of justice, attempt to pervert the course of justice, fabricating evidence, giving false evidence under oath and giving false information to the EFCC.

     

  • Businesswoman arraigned for ‘defrauding’ police chief of N20m

    A businesswoman, Omirafe Taiwo, who allegedly defrauded a retired Assistant Police Commissioner, Noah Adeosun, of N20 million, has been arraigned at an Igbosere Magistrates’ Court in Lagos.

    Taiwo, 39, whose address is unknown, is facing a four-count charge of conspiracy, fraud, issuance of dud cheque and stealing.

    She denied the charges.

    The prosecutor, Friday Mameh, said the accused and others at large conspired and committed the offences at Lekki Phase 1, Lagos, between April and September 21.

    He alleged that the accused fraudulently obtained N20 million from the complainant under the guise of selling a building to him.

    Mameh alleged that on June 29, the accused issued a dud cheque for N20 million in favour of the complainant.

    According to the prosecutor, when the cheque was presented, it was dishonoured due to insufficient funds.

    The offences contravene sections 287, 314 (1) (2) and 321 (b) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

    Counsel to the accused Mr. Jude Ozemoya urged the court to release the accused to him, promising to produce her in court throughout the trial.

    “The accused is my client. I know her well. I will make sure she attends proceedings,” the lawyer said.

    The Magistrate, Olanike Olagbende, cautioned the counsel to ensure the accused is produced in court, threatening to put him in the dock instead.

    She released the accused to Ozemoya and adjourned the case till December 5.

  • Man remanded for defrauding Afe Babalola of N5m

    Man remanded for defrauding Afe Babalola of N5m

    An Ado-Ekiti Magistrates’ Court has ordered that Femi Fagite, 42, be remanded in prison custody for allegedly defrauding the founder of Afe Babalola University (ABUAD), Aare Afe Babalola (SAN), of N5 million.

    Police counsel, Mr Femi Falade, told the court that Fagite allegedly committed the offence on December 17, 2015, in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State capital.

    Fagite is on trial for alleged conspiracy and fraudulently obtaining money from the eminent lawyer under false pretence.

    The prosecution said the accused committed the offence, adding that it is punishable under Section 1 (3) and 8 of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act, 2006.

    It requested for the remand order of the accused, saying the court lacked the jurisdiction to try the accused under the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act, 2006.

    The prosecution said there was need for further investigation and the arraignment of the accused at a Federal High Court in Ado-Ekiti.

    Fagite’s plea was not taken.

    His lawyer, Mr Femi Alonge, applied for bail, saying the only instance where the court may not admit bail is where the offence is punishable with death.

    The Magistrate, Mrs Omolola Akosile, ordered that the accused be remanded in prison custody.

    She adjourned the matter till July 27 for mention.

  • Pastor arrested for defrauding church members

    Pastor arrested for defrauding church members

    THE General Overseer of the Sufficient Grace Church, Pastor Okechukwu Joseph, has been arrested by operatives of the State Intelligence Bureau (SIB), Lagos State Police Command, for defrauding members of his church huge sums of money. According to a police source, the Pastor allegedly approached some members of his church with the pretence that he needed money to repair his car among other projects with a promise to pay back as soon as possible as he was expecting money from undisclosed sources.

    The source further disclosed that once he collects any money from a victim he starts giving flimsy excuses until the victim gets adding that most of his victims are women who do daily contribution (ajo) business. However, his obtaining money by false pretence came to the fore after defrauding two women who do daily contribution business, huge sums of money. It was gathered that he had been making empty promises of paying back for about eight years. The source said: ‘’When one of the women he allegedly defrauded took the matter up by reporting him to the church elders and threatened to report him to police he quickly paid the woman the money he collected from her. Unfortunately he was not be able to pay the second woman identified as Miss Bridget Nwankwo, who took the matter to the police due to pressure from the people who did the daily contribution and were anxious to collect back their money totalling N308,000.

    ‘’When the Pastor was invited to SIB’s office in January 2017, and was asked to find a way of reconciling with the woman, Pastor Joseph did not honour the appointment. He instead jumped bail several times only to appear on Wednesday July 12, 2017 to continue with his flimsy excuses for fear of being tracked down by SIB operatives. We will charge him to court for obtaining money by false pretence and stealing. He is a serial fraudster,’’ the source added. Explaining his involvement in the offence the suspect Joseph said: “I am married with two children. I am from Okwe Oboro, Ikweanu local government area, Umuahia, Abia State. I am the General Overseer of my church, Sufficient Grace Church, based in Lagos. ‘’I know the complainant Miss Bridget Nwankwo as a member of my church. I had no misunderstanding with her. What really happened is that I collected N308,000 from her to do some reconstruction work in my church where we were before I relocated, due to circumstances beyond my control.

    ‘’Now we are somewhere in Oworonshoki area because the owner of the landt died and the place was sold off. I paid her N60,000 and another N40,000 totalling N100,000. I was not able to pay the remaining N208,000, because money was not coming to me as before. She later reported me to SIB that I did not pay her the balance of N208,000. When I was invited by the Police to have a talk with her on how to pay the remaining money, I told her that I would be paying her N20,000 every first Sunday of the month but she refused. The church I am pastoring is a growing church. If you look at my body physique you will think that I have money. I had problems and that was why I had no money to pay her. I had a very serious financial problem. He added: ‘’The boy living in my house, Chidi Eze was sick and died two months ago. He was operated in April 2017.

    I was in Benin and I came and he was taken home, to the East, Abia State but he died of complication. I was travelling to see the boy’s parents at their home town because they were not happy and they had been asking me about how their child died. Their tradition demands that you must bring something and I had been running around to see what I could do before police invited me. I know that it is eight years today. I was not running away. I have intention to pay the balance. The Police said they will charge me to court. I do not want them to charge me to court. I will be paying instalmentally. However, the complainant Miss Bridget Nwankwo said: ‘’My clients have been asking me for their money. It is eight years now and I cannot trust him again. He has caused me much pain and if I keep quiet my client will not believe me.’’

  • Court acquits man, 52, of defrauding Ekiti govt of N72m

    A Federal High Court in Ado-Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital, yesterday discharged and acquitted a 52-year-old man, Tunde Adebayo, charged with defrauding the state government of N72 million.

    He was arraigned on a two-count charge of conspiracy and fraud.

    The prosecution said the accused obtained N72 million to supply laptops for 450 senior police officers serving in the state.

    Justice Donatus Okorowo held that the prosecution failed to prove its case beyond reasonable doubts.

    He said: “The prosecution counsel failed to produce any record to support the allegations of conspiracy and fraud against the defendant.

    “He is hereby discharged and acquitted.”

    The prosecution counsel, Mr Femi Falade, told the court that the defendant committed the offences on March 18, 2009.

    He said the defendant conspired with others on the run and defrauded the state government of N72 million from the State Multi-purpose Credit Agency Office in Ado-Ekiti for buying laptops for 450 senior police officers.

    Adebayo was said to have supplied only 270 laptops out of the approved 450 and failed to supply the rest.

  • Lawyer accused of defrauding client N3.5m

    A 75-year-old lawyer, Joshua Awe, was yesterday arraigned before an Igbosere Magistrates’ Court for allegedly obtaining N3.5 million from his client under the false pretence of selling him land.

    The septuagenarian was docked with an estate agent, Dickson Ofor, 65, before Magistrate O. O. Oshin.

    They are standing trial on a four-count charge of conspiracy, fraud, and stealing.

    Prosecuting Inspector Jimoh Joseph said the defendants and others at large committed the offences sometime in June, 2012, at 11, Oke Street, Pedro, Gbagada, Lagos.

    He said they obtained N3.5m from the complainant, Mr Nnamdi Nebechi, as payment for land plot at 35, Assess Road, Gbohungbohun, Oworonsoki, Lagos, despite knowing that the plot had been sold.

    “The defendants sold the land but concealed the encumbrances over it, therefore, stole the said money belonging to the complainant,” the prosecutor said.

    The defendants pleaded not guilty.

    Magistrate Oshin granted them N1millon bail each with two sureties in the like sum. The sureties must show proof of three years’ tax payment.

    The case was adjourned till April 19.

  • Pastor arraigned for ‘defrauding’ church member

    A 45-year-old cleric, Dominion Ayendi, who allegedly defrauded his church member of N700,000, yesterday appeared before an Ikeja Magistrates’ Court on a three-count charge.

    The police charged Ayendi, a resident of Ekoro Road, Abule-Egba, Lagos, with conspiracy, fraud and stealing.

    According to prosecuting Inspector Clifford Ogu, the pastor defrauded Mr Godwin Onaja of N700,000 under the false pretences of using the money to execute a contract.

    “The accused solicited for the complainant’s assistance, claiming that he secured a contract to be executed in Cross River, and that he was financially handicapped.

    “He collected N700,000 from the complainant with a promise to pay back within three weeks, but did not pay,” he said.

    Ogu said that the cleric committed the fraud and theft between November 15 and 20 at Abule-Egba.

    He added that the accused conspired with one Mark Orji to commit the offence.

    Ogu said that the offence contravened Sections 285, 312 and 409 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the accused may be jailed for 15 years, if found guilty, according to the provisions of section 312.

    The accused pleaded not guilty, and was granted N150,000 bail with two sureties in the like sum.

    Magistrate T. Akanni adjourned the case till January 25.

  • Man arraigned for ‘defrauding’ customer of N8m

    A 56-year-old man, Abiodun Akande, who allegedly defrauded a businessman, Felix Obichukwu, of N8 million, was yesterday arraigned at a Surulere Chief Magistrates’ Court in Lagos.

    Akande is facing a three-count charge of obtaining money under false pretences and stealing.

    Prosecuting Inspector Gabriel Ekundayo, said the accused committed the offence at Alafia Bus Stop, Orile-Iganmu, Lagos, around 10.30am on May 12, 2012.

    He said Obichukwu came to the station to report that the accused collected N8 million from him on the pretext of selling two containers laden with Tiger generators and kitchenware.

    “Since he paid the money into his account, the accused failed to make available the containers and efforts to recover the money proved abortive.’’

    The offences contravened Sections 285 and 312(2) and (3) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2011.

    The accused pleaded not guilty.

    Ruling on the accused’s bail application, Chief Magistrate M.I. Dan-Oni, granted him N500,000 bail with two sureties in the like sum.

    She directed that 10 per cent of the bail sum should be deposited into the account of the court’s Chief Registrar.

    The case was adjourned to May 30.

  • Manager, two others arrested for ‘defrauding’ Chinese firm of N50m

    • Suspect in property acquisition spree

    The sales manager of a Chinese firm that undertakes sales, distribution, supply and marketing of agro-allied products such as pesticide and other agricultural chemicals, Femi Eric Omotunde, has allegedly been arrested by operatives of the Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad (FSARS), Lagos State Police Command, Ikeja, Lagos.

    Arrested with the middle-aged suspect were his alleged cohorts, namely: John Olawale Olamiyan, identified as the warehouse chief security and Saidu, a co-security personnel of the company with head office at Plot 817, Ifeanyi Uba Crescent, Omole Phase II, Lagos and branch offices in the Western, Eastern, Southern and Northern parts of Nigeria including Kotangora, Niger State.

    According to a source, the Assistant General Manager of Eagrow Nigeria Company Limited, Mr.  WU Hongzhou, through the company’s lawyer, Deji Roland and Terry Badmos Adeniji and Co., petitioned the Inspector General of Police.

    On several occasions, it his said that the AGM undertakes internal auditing of stock in the warehouse.  On one occasion, specifically October 20, 2015, he discovered that some staff of the company, including Omotunde, Olaniyan and Saidu, who are sales manager, warehouse chief security and security man respectively, had allegedly fraudulently sold goods worth approximately N50 million with the money paid into their individual bank accounts.

    The source disclosed that further investigation by the AGM showed that Omotunde has since 2014 operated two bank accounts to perpetrate the fraud and that the suspects individually lodged several sums into the said accounts amounting to N50 million.

    He gave the account details as follows: Keystone Bank; Name: Femi Eric and First Bank Plc; Account Name: Omotunde Femi Eric.

    It was also revealed by the AGM that one Alhaji Sanusi paid N10 million into Omotunde’s First Bank account, representing sales of goods bought from the company, which caused the company great financial loss.

    Omotunde was arrested on December 3 while in a meeting at the company’s head office in Lagos.  According to the Deputy General Manager, Jackie Guo, represented by Lin Guoliang, the company discovered the fraud because it audits the accounts every year. It discovered that there was low patronage and low income in the statement of account and goods from the year 2013 to 2015.

    He said the company usually counts goods every one or two months. The warehouse, he said, is small and goods are packed in palates. Each palate contains 100 cartons of goods coming in and going out.

    It was discovered that there was a hole inside the warehouse through which goods were siphoned.

    Mr Guoliang said: “We suspected Femi and the security men, and when the police arrested him, he confessed. We also discovered that he inflated transport fare, put additional cartons in the ones distributedto customers. Instead of 100 cartons, he packaged 110.

    “He also brought his own truck to convey the goods from the warehouse in Kotangora to Sokoto and sold it to one Alhaji Mohammed based in Sokoto. The 100 cartons he supplied to him cost N900, 000, which was paid into his personal account, and nothing was paid into the company’s bank account.

    “Femi also allegedly sent 100 cartons to one Daniel of 1K Agro located at Road Block, Zuru, Kebbi State in 2013 and 400 cartons worth N3, 000, 000 which was paid into his personal account.

    “The company also discovered that Femi allegedly used the money to build a mini-estate in Kotangora, Niger State,” said Guoliang, adding: “He also built a four-bedroom duplex in Minna, Niger State and bought two plots of land undeveloped in Kotangora. He also had an uncompleted building. He also bought a trailer and car, and there were deposit slips made by customers to his account.

    “When the security man noticed that what Femi was doing was illegal, he used his phone to take pictures and capture them whenever they were carrying out the goods.”

    Guoliang revealed that the fraud made the company to close down, and the staff of 20 were sacked, adding that such fraud can discourage foreign investment in Nigeria.

    Following the arrest by the Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad (FSARS), many Agro- allied companies are reportedly scrambling to also get the suspect arrested once he is through with the security enforcement unit of the Lagos State Police Command.