The trio of Divine Nonso Chukwuma, Hameed Babaolobi and one Adio Moses (now at large), were Thursday dragged before Justice Akintayo Aluko of a Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos, for allegedly defrauding seven businessmen to the tune of One Hundred and Fifty Million Naira (N150, 000, 000. 00) only.
According to the Police Special Fraud Unit (PSFU), Lagos, the accused persons allegedly posed as importers of computers, phones and their accessories to dupe their unsuspecting victims, using their bank accounts domiciled at First City Monument Bank (FCMB) and First Bank.
In the charge designated FHC/L/330c/2021, the PSFU alleged tphat the defendants alongside one Adio Moses Adedohun, said to be at large, between March and August 2021 In Lagos State and Ilorin, Kwara State, conspired among themselves to commit a felony by obtaining the sum of One Hundred and Fifty Million Naira (N150, 000, 000. 00) only each from Damilola Ajibike, Akinsanya Akinwale, John Bassey, Olubo Ayodeji, Uzoma Confidence Ogochukwu, Victor Abia Ekanem, Amole Damilola and others by false pretences through their 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 defendants pleaded not guilty to the eight counts charge when the same was read to them in open court.
Meanwhile, the PSFU maintains that the offence is contrary to Section 1(1) (a) (b) and (c) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act 2006, No. 14 of 2006 and punishable under Section 1 (3) of the same Act.
But consequent upon the defendants’ not guilty plea, the prosecutor, Chukwu Agwu prayed the judge to remand them at the Ikoyi Correctional Centre of the Nigerian Correctional Services (NCoS), pending the hearing and determination of the charge. He further requested a trial date.
Ngozi Akandu, counsel to the first defendant, while conceding to a trial date, told Justice Aluko that he has just been briefed about the matter and would be filing bail application for the first defendant shortly, just as he appealed to the court for a short adjournment.
On his part, F. Aliyu, counsel to the second defendant told the court that he has filed a bail summons on behalf of his client and urged the court for a short adjournment.
In his short ruling, Justice Aluko ordered the remand of the defendants at the facility of the NCS, Ikoyi and adjourned till 19th February 2022, for the hearing of the bail application of the second defendant and 2nd March 2022, for the commencement of trial.
