A Federal High Court, sitting in Lagos, has remanded a Lagos-based businessman, Joseph Unezugha at the Ikoyi Correctional Services, over alleged N66million fraud.
Presiding Judge, Justice Daniel Osiagor gave the order base on his not guilty plea, after he was arraigned before the Court.
In the charge filed before the Court, Police Prosecution Counsel, Justine Enang alleged the Defendant and others now at large sometime in January 2022 in Lagos State, within the jurisdiction of Lagos Judicial Division of the Federal High Court, obtained the sum of N66,000,000 (Sixty Six Million Naira Only) by false pretence.
Barr. Enang, who is from the Special Fraud Unit, SFU, of the Nigerian Police, in the charge, alleged that the offence is 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.
When the charge was read to him, the Defendant pleaded not guilty.
Consequently, the Prosecutor urged the Court to remand him in the Correctional Services Facility, pending a date for the commencement of trial.
However, the Defendant’s Counsel, C. O. Abubu told the Court that he has filed an application for his bail and same has been served on the Prosecution.
Responding, Barrister Enang retorted, saying he was served in Court shortly before the arraignment and would need time to reply to the application.
Justice Osiagor consequently adjourned the matter till June 4, 2023 for hearing of the bail application, and ordered that the defendant be remanded in Ikoyi Correctional Services.
The charges filed before the Court include:
Count One:
“That you, Joseph Okwudili Umezugha ‘m’ and others now at large sometime in January 2022 in Lagos State, within the jurisdiction of Lagos Judicial Division of the Federal High Court, with intent to defraud did conspired to commit felony to wit: obtaining the sum of N66,000,000 (Sixty Six Million Naira Only) by false pretence 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 Two:
“That you Joseph Okwudili Umezugha ‘m’ sometimes in January 2022, within the aforementioned judicial Division of the Federal High Court, with intent to defraud, did obtain the sum of Sixty Six Million Naira Only (N66,000,000.00) from one Uchechukwu Umeh Elxor ‘m’ through your bank account on the representation to him that you are a businessman and owner of Saint Joes International agency Ltd and Jessicas Global International & Suits Ltd, that you want him to partner with you in the business and that the money in question was his counterpart funding contribution to finance the operation of the business, but which representation you knew to be false or did not believe to be true as you subsequently converted the money to your personal use and benefit and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1(i)(a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and other Fraud Related Offences Act No. 14 of 2006 and punishable under Section 1(3) of the same Act.
Count Three:
“That you, Joseph Okwualli Umzugha we sometimes In January. 2022, in Lagos State, within the aforementioned judicial Division of Federal High Court, did convert to your own use and benefit, the sum of N66,000,000.00 (Sixty Six Million Naira Only) property of One Uchechukwu Umeh Elxor ‘m’, which sum you knew or reasonably ought to have known was the proceed of an unlawful act, to wit, obtaining by false pretences from Uchechukwu Chief Elsor and thereby committed an offerice punishable under Section 15(2b of the Money Laundering Prohibition Act, 2011) as Amended.
Count Four:
“That you, Joseph Okwudill Umezugha “Hi sometimes In January. 2022, in Lagos State, within the aforementioned judicial division of the Federal High Court, did knowingly forged a document titled: “Lagos State Certificate of Occupancy” with Registration No. 62 at Page 62 In Volume 2014J dated 10th day of May, 2014 with intent that it may fit in any Way be used or acted upon as genuine whether in Nigeria or Elsewhere to the prejudice of Uchechukwu Umel Elxor ‘m and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 1(2)(c) of the Miscellaneous offenses Act Cap. M17 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2014″.