Justice Ambrose Lewis-Allagoa of a Federal High Court, Lagos, has ordered the remand of a businessman, Samuel Mmaduegbo Chukwuemeka, at the Ikoyi center of the Nigerian Correctional Services (NCoS), over alleged conspiracy and fraud of N73, 250 million.
Justice Lewis-Allagoa issued the remand order against the businessman today, following his not guilty plea against the charge preferred against him by the operatives of the Force Criminal Investigation Department (ForceCID) Annex Alagbon-Ikoyi.
The prosecutor, Barrister S. A. Ogala, told the court that defendant and others now at large, had on June 24, 2024, conspired among themselves and fraudulently obtained the mentioned sum for a businessman.
He told the court that the defendant fraudulently obtained the money under false pretence of changing same with the United States Dollars(USD). Adding that upon receiving the money, he stole same.
The prosecutor told the court that the alleged illegal acts of the defendant contravened sections 8(a)(c) and 1(1)(a)(3)Â of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, LFN 2006.
He also told the court that the illegal act contravened section 390(9) of the Criminal Code Act, LFN 2004. And punishable under the same Act.
Following the not guilty plea of the defendant, the prosecutor, Barrister Ogala asked the court for a trial, as well urged the court to remand the defendant in the custody of the Nigerian Correctional Services NCoS pending the determination of the charges against him.
However, lawyer to the defendant, Barrister O. C. Ifeji, informed the court that he was just briefed of the matter, hence he was unable to file his client’s bail application.
He therefore urged for a short date for hearing of the bail application.
Justice Lewis-Allagoa in his ruling after listening to the counsel, ordered the remand of the defendant in Ikoyi center of the NCos.
The judge thereafter adjourned the matter to July 8, for hearing of the defendant’s bail application. While fixed September 23, for the commencement of trial.
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