A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos has ordered the remand of three men and a lady accused of obtaining the sum of N20million from a businessman Mr Mathew Ibeneme under false pretenses.
Justice Akintoye Aluko gave the remand order following the arraignment of the four accused persons, by Police from Zone 2, Onikan Lagos.
The four accused persons who are arraigned on a two counts charge are Lilian Opara Onuoha, a female, Don-Onwuka P. Osas’m’, Collins Udo Godfrey ‘m’, Ezeani Chukwuma.
Arraigning the four defendants before Justice Akintoye Aluko on Tuesday, Police Prosecutor, Mr S.E. Iredia told the court that he has a two count charge before the court and urged the court to allow the charge be read so that the defendants can take thier plea.
Following the reading of the charge and the defendants’ plea of not guilty to same, the Prosecutor, S. E . Iredia asked the court for a trial date and the remand of the defendants in the custody of the Nigeria Correctional Service, NCS pending trial.
However, counsel to the defendants told Justice Aluko that he got wind of the arraignment late on Monday and yet to conclude the filing of the defendants’ bail applications.
He therefore asked for a short adjournment so that he can bring a proper bail summons before the court.
Justice Aluko while adjourning the matter till 7th September,2022 for the defendants’ to file thier bail applications, ordered their remand in the custody of the Nigerian Correctional Service.
The charge against the defendants reads: That you Lilian Opara Onuoha ‘f, Don-Onwuka P. Osas’m’, Collins Udo Godfrey ‘m’, Ezeani Chukwuma ‘m’, and others now at large, on the 29th day of June, 2020 at No. 66 Lake view Estate, phase 11, at about 1420 hours, within the Lagos Division of the Federal High Court, did conspire to commit felony to wit: Obtaining Money under False Pretense and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 8 (a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Acts 2006.
Count 11 reads : That you Lillian Opara Onuoha ‘f, Don-Onwuka P. Osas’ ‘m’, Collins Udo Godfrey ‘m’, Ezeani Chukwuma ‘m’, and others now at large, on same date, place and time, in the aforementioned Judicial Division of the Federal High Court, did Obtained the sum of N20, 000,000.00 (Twenty Million Naira only), from Mr. Matthew Ibeneme, on the pretense that you will sell to him the sum af $50,000 Dollars to enable (him) Mr. Matthew Ibeneme purchase iron and Steel from Hong Kong, a representation you knew to be false, and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 1(a) (b) (2) and section 11 of the Advance Fee Fraud and Pyher Fraud Related Acts 2006.
