The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Fraud charge

  • Businessman faces visa fraud charge

    A businessman, Uchechukwu Anyagwa, yesterday appeared at an Ikeja Magistrates’ Court, for allegedly obtaining N5.242 million under the guise of securing a Canadian visa.

    Anyagwa, who lives at 31, Adebayo Street, Dopemu, Lagos, is charged with conspiracy, fraud, stealing and forgery.

    He pleaded not guilty.

    Prosecuting Inspector Victor Eruada alleged that Anyagwa, with others at large, committed the offence between last October 24 and November 27, at Aguda, Lagos.

    He said the defendant obtained N5.24 million from the complainant, Mr. Kelechi Ehirim, on the pretext of securing the visa.

    Eruada said the defendant told Ehirim that he was a licensed agent of the Canadian Embassy.

    He alleged that Anyagwa, who did not secure the visa, forged a Canadian visa and gave the complainant as genuine.

    The prosecutor also alleged that the defendant had once forged an Ireland visa dated November 13, 2018.

    He said the offence contravened sections 287, 313, 365 and 411 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State, 2015.

    Magistrate M. I. Dan-Oni admitted the defendant to N600, 000 bail with two sureties in the like sum.

    She said the sureties must be employed and show evidence of tax payment to the Lagos State Government.

    The case continues on May 7.

  • Three face N20m rice fraud charge

    The police in Ogun State have charged three men – Kayode Taiwo, 43, Babatunde Elijah, 42, and Olamide Adebayo, 32 – before an Ota Chief Magistrates’ Court for alleged N20 million rice fraud.

    The defendants, whose addresses were not provided, are facing a three-count charge of conspiracy, stealing and obtaining goods under false pretences.

    Prosecuting Sergeant Abdulkareem Mustapha alleged that the defendants and others still at large, committed the offences on December 18 last year at 2pm at Sango-Ota Market.

    He said the defendants collected 602 bags of rice valued at N20 million from Mrs. Chigozie Anudu on the pretext of paying for them after sales.

    The prosecutor said the defendants failed to pay for the rice and converted the proceeds to personal use.

    “The defendants converted the money to their use instead of fulfilling the agreement between the two parties,” he said.

    Mustapha said the offences contravened sections 390(9), 419 and 516 of the Criminal Code, Laws of Ogun, 2006.

    The defendants, however, pleaded not guilty.

    Chief Magistrate Matthew Akinyemi granted each of the defendants N2million bail with two sureties each in the like sum.

    He said the sureties must live within the court’s jurisdiction and be employed with evidence of tax payment to Ogun State Government.

    The case was adjourned till March 14.

  • Suspect faces N7.5m fraud charge

    A 41-year-old man, Godwin Ali, was yesterday in Sango-Ota, Ogun State, arraigned at a Chief Magistrates’ Court for a fraud of N7.5 million.

    Ali, who lives at 14 Oguntunde Street, Iyana-Ilogbo, Ota, is facing a two-count charge of fraud and obtaining money under false pretences.

    Prosecuting Sergeant Abdulkareem Mustapha told the court that the defendant committed the offences on May 16, 2017, at about 11:30am in Sango-Ota.

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    He said the defendant collected N7.5 million under false pretences from the complainant, Nuru Mohammed, to supply Aluminium doors.

    “The defendant converted the money to personal use instead of fulfilling the agreement between the two parties.” Mustapha said.

    The defendant, however, pleaded not guilty.

    Chief Magistrate Mathew Akinyemi granted the defendant N2 million bail with two sureties in the like sum.

    He said the sureties must reside within the court’s jurisdiction and be employed.

    Akinyemi ordered that the sureties must show evidence of tax payment to the Ogun Government.

    He adjourned the case till February 28 for further hearing.

  • Dad, son face N44.3m cashew nut fraud charge

    A 62-year-old man, Adeyanju Gbadegesin Louis, and his son,  Mark, yesterday appeared before an Igbosere Chief Magistrates’ Court for allegedly defrauding an agricultural firm, Thoam Farms Ltd, of N44,844,450.

    The Force Criminal Intelligence and Investigation Department (CIID), Alagbon, Ikoyi, Lagos, alleged that the duo obtained the cash on the pretext of supplying the company with cashew nut.

    Louis and Mark were arraigned alongside their company, Society Adeglobal Resources, located at Plot C55, Amuwo-Odofin Industrial Estate, Lagos, before Chief Magistrate O. O. Oshin.

    Prosecuting counsel Morufu Animashaun alleged that the defendants and others, who are on the run, committed the offences “on or about June 7, 2018 at Plot C55, Amuwo-Odofin Industrial Estate, Lagos.”

    He said they cajoled the company to invest the money in a cashew nut business.

    Animashaun said: “They received N44,844,450.00 from the firm on the pretext that they have in their company, cashew nut valued at the amount for instant supply.

    “Upon receiving the money, they failed to supply the cashew nut and refused to return the money to the firm.”

    Louis and Mark pleaded not guilty.

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    Their counsel, Kola Akosile, prayed the court to grant them bail “in the most liberal terms.

    “They have no previous criminal record and have credible sureties to stand for them.”

    Chief Magistrate Oshin admitted each defendant to N1 million bail with one responsible surety.

    She ordered each surety to deposit N500, 000 in an interest yielding account of the court’s registrar.

    The sureties, who must be residents of Lagos State, must show evidence of three years’ tax payment to the Lagos State Government, Mrs. Oshin added.

    She remanded father and son in prison custody pending their fulfilment of the bail conditions and adjourned till February 13.

  • Engineer faces N1m fraud charge

    A 54-year-old engineer, Chikezie Sibeudu, was yesterday arraigned before a Yaba Chief Magistrates’ Court in Lagos for alleged N1 million fraud.

    Sibeudu, who lives at Alago Meji, Yaba, is facing a one-count charge of obtaining by false pretences, but he pleaded not guilty.

    Prosecutor Thomas Nurudeen alleged that the accused defrauded Mr. David Kehinde

    in July at 62, Ojuelegba Road, Surulere, Lagos.

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    He said the complainant (Kehinde) supplied the accused buckets of paint worth N1.7 million, but the accused paid him N700,000 and refused to pay the balance.

    Nurudeen said the accused paid the N700,000 in July and promised to pay the balance before October.

    “My Lord, the accused did not make any other payment. He closed his office, switched off his phones and was unavailable till the police arrested him,” he alleged.

    Chief Magistrate K.B. Ayeye granted the accused bail in the sum of N250,000 with one surety in the like sum.

    She ordered that the surety should be employed and show evidence of tax payment to the Lagos State Government.

    The case continues on February 27.

  • Fake visa agent faces N900,000 fraud charge

    A fake visa agent, Oyadokun Oladele, on Thursday appeared before an Ogudu Magistrates’ Court in Lagos for allegedly obtaining N900,000 from his Facebook friend under false pretenses.

    Oyadokun, 34, of Fola Tyre area of Oyo State, is facing a two-count charge of fraud and obtaining under false pretences.

    The Prosecutor, Sgt. Lucky Ihiehie, told court that the accused committed the offences sometime between November, 2017 and March, 2018 at Ikosi in Ketu, near Lagos.

    Ihiehie said that the complainant, one Adenike Eniola, reported the case at the Alapere Police Station, Ketu on April 2.

    “Sometime last year the complainant and the accused met online and became friends after he introduced himself as an engineer working with a company in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, and also as a visa agent.

    “During one of their conversations, Oyadokun told the complainant that he had some issues with his visa business and needed some money to push it.

    “A deposit of N600, 000 was requested by the accused, which the complainant obliged him and transferred the money from her account to the complainant’s account.

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    “After some months, Adenike introduced a man, Arogundade Ishola to the accused to secure him a working visa to Dubai of which a sum of N300, 000 was negotiated for the process.

    “The money was transferred to the accused by Adenike on Dec. 22, 2017 and the visa was to be ready in six weeks.

    “After six weeks the accused said there was a slight delay in the visa process but that it was ready and that Arogundade’s flight had been booked for March 10, 2018.

    The prosecutor said that since March 6, the accused blocked his contacts and Facebook’s account so that Adenike wouldn’t reach him.

    He also said that it was discovered that the accused had been operating from Oyo State and not Dubai as believed by Adenike.

    Ihiehie said that Oladele was arrested in Oyo State through some of his friends that he also duped.

    The offences contravened Sections 280 (1), (a), and 314 (1), (a) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

    The accused, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.

    The Magistrate, Mrs E. Ikubehinje, admitted the accused to bail in the sum of N200, 000 with two sureties, who must be taxpayers with an evidence of payment of rent and other utility bills.

    The case was adjourned until Aug. 22.

  • Another faces N145,000 fraud charge

    A 31-year-old farmer, Seun Ehinmisan, was yesterday arraigned at an Okitipupa Magistrates’ Court in Ondo State for alleged N145,000 fraud.

    The accused, of no fixed address, is standing trial on a one-count charge of Advance Fee Fraud.

    Prosecutor Zedekiah Orogbemi told the court that the accused on February 10, about 9am, at 18, Erinje Road, Okitipupa, allegedly collected N145,000 from the complainant, Veronica Okpako.

    He alleged that the accused collected the money on the pretext of renting an oil palm plantation to her.

    Orogbemi said the accused did not rent the plantation to the complainant as agreed.

    He said the offence contravened Section 419, Criminal Code, Cap. 37, Vol.1, Law of Ondo State, 2006.

    The accused pleaded not guilty. The Magistrate, Mr. Banji Ayeomoni, granted the accused bail at N100,000, and a surety.

    He said the surety must present one year tax clearance and adjourned the case till April 23 for further hearing.

     

  • Court frees couple of N285m fraud charge

    A Lagos High Court  has discharged and acquitted a couple, Mr and Mrs Innocent Eloka of alleged N285million fraud.

    Justice Adeniyi Onigbanjo found the couple not guilty of the charge preferred against them by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) seven years ago.

    The couple, who were on trial on a three-count charge of conspiracy and stealing, allegedly stole from their company, Clarion Bonded Terminal Limited by its former Chairman, Mr Jude lgbanugo were absolved of all the charges by the court.

    Justice Onigbanjo held that the couple were not culpable of  any fraudulent allegations levelled against them by the prosecution.

    The judge, who took over the case from Justice Habeeb Abiru, now of the Court of Appeal, discharged and acquitted the couple.

    The couple had consistently, during trial, proved ownership of the bonded terminal known as Clarion Off-Dock Terminal.

    A former Clarion Bonded Terminal Limited chairman, Mr lgbanugo, alleged that the couple,  while acting as Managing Director, Chief Operating Officer and General Manager of the company, misappropriated N285million between March 2011 and April 2011.

    Delivering judgment in the matter, Justice Onigbanjo held that the prosecution failed to prove that the petitioners had any such monies capable of being stolen nor show that any such fund was traceable to the defendants in any way.

    The court held that to prove a case of stealing, three key elements, must be established, viz: the ownership of the thing stolen, the act of taking or diverting the property and the fraudulent intent.

    The court held that the prosecution failed to establish its case and prove the critical element of fraudulent intent against them.

    The court, therefore, discharged and acquitted them.

  • Ajudua seeks to quash alleged $1m fraud charge

    Lagos socialist Fred Ajudua yesterday prayed an Ikeja High Court to quash an alleged $1 million fraud charge filed against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

    The anti-graft agency, in its charge in 1993, accused Ajudua and his accomplice, Joseph Ochunor, of defrauding Ziad Abu Zalaf of Technical International Limited in Germany, of $1 million.

    At the resumed proceedings before Justice Josephine Oyefeso yesterday, his counsel, Norrison Quakers (SAN), said he had two applications pending before the court and that the prosecution had been copied.

    Quakers accused the EFCC of not filing its court response on time.

    He said: “My lord, our application is dated May 9 and we are seeking that the fraud charge be struck out. We served the prosecution with a copy of the application on May 10.

    “The counter-affidavit of the prosecution was not filed within time and there was no application before the court to regularise same.”

    Counsel to the EFCC Mr. Seidu Atteh countered the senior lawyer’s claims, insisting that the prosecution responded within time.

    “We filed a counter-affidavit, dated May 17, and the learned senior counsel noted that there was a mistake on the date and we filed another one on October 10.

    “With the kind permission of the court, we will like to regularise same with an oral application.”

    After the oral application of the EFCC counsel, Quakers told the court that he would respond to the counter-affidavit of the prosecution within seven days.

    Justice Oyefeso adjourned the matter till November 30 to hear the application seeking to quash the fraud charge.

     

  • Estate agent faces N270,000 fraud charge

    A self-acclaimed estate agent, Okolin Nma, yesterday, appeared at an Apapa Magistrates’ Court in Lagos, for allegedly defrauding Morry Anakwe, a prospective tenant, of N270,000.

    Nma, 36, a resident of Okito Street, Ajegunle, Lagos, is standing trial on a two-count charge of obtaining under false pretence and stealing, to which he pleaded not guilty.

    The police prosecutor, Olusegun Kokoye, told the court that the accused committed the offences on August 22 at his home.

    He alleged that the accused obtained N270,000 from the complainant, on the pretext of providing her two-room accommodation in a building he was managing.

    “Nma converted the money to his personal use and started avoiding the complainant.

    “The complainant said the accused did not give her any apartment and when she demanded her money, he refused to refund it.

    “When Anakwe realised that the accused was trying to cheat her, she reported the matter to the police and the accused was arrested,” the prosecutor said.

    He said the offences contravened sections 287 and 314 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

    The Senior Magistrate, Mr. M.A. Etti, granted the accused bail at N200,000, with two sureties.

    The case was adjourned till October 19 for mention.