A Lagos-based businessman, Chizoba Okafor has been arraigned before a Federal High Court, sitting in Lagos, by the Nigerian Police, over allegation of fraud.
Okafor, according to a charge sheet no. FHC/L/130C/23, filed before the Court by the Police Counsel, Barr. Azubuike Sylvester, is facing a two-count charge bordering on conspiracy and obtaining by false pretence.
The defendant sometime in September 2022, while operating under the name and style of Grand Lumax Allied Company, was alleged to have conspired with others now at large to obtain the sum of N226,224,000.85, from two merchants, Uzoma Frankline and Godstime Ogbonna Eze.
The defendant pleaded not guilty when the charges were read to him in Court.
Presiding Judge, Justice Nicholas Oweibo, after adjourning to take the bail application, fixed June 22nd, 2023 for the commencement of trial.
The two-count charge filed before the Court, with number FHC/L/130C/23, are:
COUNT 1
That you CHIZOBA OKAFOR ‘M’, and others now at large, sometime in September, 2022 in Lagos, within the Jurisdiction of the Federal High Court, while operating under the name and style of GRAND LUMAX ALLIED LTD did conspired with others now at large to commit a felony to wit: by false pretence obtain the sum of N226,244,000,00 Million(Two Hundred and Twenty-Six Million, Two Hundred Forty-Four Thousand Naira Only) property of UZOMA FRANKLINE, AND GODSTIME OGBONNA EZEH and thereby committed an Offence Contrary to Section 8(a) and Punishable Under Section 1(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act No 14 of 2006.
COUNT 2
That you CHIZOBA OKAFOR ‘M’, and others now at large, sometime in September, 2022 in Lagos, within the Jurisdiction of the Federal High Court while operating under the name and style of GRAND LUMAX ALLIED LTD by false pretence, obtain the sum of N226,244,000,00 million (Two Hundred and Twenty-Six Million, Two Hundred Forty- Four Thousand Naira from one SAIDU ABULAZEEZ property of UZOMA FRANKLINE, AND GODSTIME OGBONNA EZEH by falsely representing to them that your company known as GRAND LUMAX ALLIED LTD is a registered Bureau-De Change with capacity to send foreign currency of any amount to any country of the world;
And that you have with you over $325,520 USD available for sale to any interested buyer which you said you already had in your custody and you are ready and willing to credit their account with Dollar equivalent within 21 days of your company receiving payment of the sum of N226 244 000.000, a representation you know to be false or does not believe to be and by this conduct, you thereby committed an Offence Contrary to 1(1Xa) and Punishable Under Section 1(3) of the Advanced Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act No 14 of 2006