Justice Akintayo Aluko of the Federal High Court in Lagos, on Monday ordered the prosecution to investigate an alleged ill health of a defendant, facing charges of alleged N62.4 million fraudulent conversion.
The defendant, Munzali Shehu, 47, is charged on four-counts bordering on conspiracy, fraudulent conversion, obtaining money under false pretences, and stealing to the tune of N62.4 million.
He is being prosecuted by the Inspector General of Police (IGP).
When the case was called on Monday for arraignment of the defendant, his counsel, Mr O.C Aigbangbe, informed the court that the defendant was sick and currently receiving treatment in Kano.
He, however, informed the court that he will endeavour to furnish the prosecution with the necessary documents evidencing the state of health of the defendant, before the next date.
In response, the prosecutor, Mr M.A Omo-Osagie, frowned at the situation and informed the court that the defence counsel ought to have made available the evidence of such ill health of the defendant.
But the defence counsel reiterated his pledge to make the document available before the next adjourned date .
The court, consequently, adjoined the case until March 26, for arraignment of the defendant, but ordered the prosecutor to investigate the issue of ill health of the defendant.
The court also held that such investigation will enable the court make the necessary orders.
“The counsel for the defendant, shall cooperate with the prosecutor to investigate the state of health of the defendant, and report back to the court at the next date, in order to enable the court make the appropriate order” he said
In the charge, the defendant, was alleged to have committed the offence on September 9, 2023, at the Agege area of Lagos State
The defendant was alleged to have conspired with one Musa Jamilu who is now at large, to fraudulently obtain the sum of N62.4 million from one Alhaji Isoaka Hassan, the sum is said to be the equivalent of 480,000 Chinese Yuan otherwise known as RMB, which was paid into a Chinese account with name Lyan Ghshan Honghu Automobile Trading Company Ltd.
The defendant was said to have converted the said foreign currency into personal use which was put in his care, through the chinese account he provided for the electronic transfer, and which was meant for onward remittance to the owner.
The defendant and his alleged accomplice were said to have presented themselves as money dealers, who specialised in the transfer and exchange of foreign currencies, knowing same to be false .
The offences contravenes the provisions of sections 1(3), and 11(3( of the Advanced Fee Fraud Act 2004, as well as the provisions of sections 390(9) and 516 of the Criminal Code, Cap C33, Law of the Federation, 2004.
