Four remanded in prison over N242m fake investment

Emmanuel Nehemiah, Thomas Dauda Boman, Jemila Abdulrahaman Garba and Francis Kato David

Four people have been remanded in prison after they allegedly duped some gullible Nigerians over N242 million in a fake investment scheme.

The accused, Emmanuel Nehemiah, Thomas Dauda Boman, Jemila Abdulrahman Garba and Francis Kato David were arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

They were arraigned yesterday alongside their companies: Geldaps Ezofom Services Limited and Geldaps Investment Nigeria Limited.

They were arraigned before Justice M. M Kolo of the FCT High Court sitting in Wuse, Abuja, on a 15-count charge bordering on conspiracy, fraud and criminal breach of trust. They all pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The EFCC spokesman, Wilson Uwujaren, said that the accused allegedly swindled 50 subscribers to the tune of N242, 178,272.00 in a bogus investment scheme.

According to one of the victims who invested N400, 000, the accused persons promised them 50 percent interest on any sum invested upon maturity after 60 days.

Uwujaren said: “Another victim alleged that she invested a sum of N800, 000 which she borrowed from one of the new generation banks but neither received the interest promised nor got a refund of the principal invested.”

Count seven of the charge reads: “That you, Geldaps Ezofom Services Limited, Geldaps Investment Nigeria, Emmanuel Nehemiah, Thomas Dauda Boman, Jemila Abdulrahman Garba and Francis Kato on November 30, 2012, in Abuja within the jurisdiction of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory being entrusted with the sum N3, 000,000.00 by Prince Chukwuemeka Onah as an investment in Geldaps Investment Nigeria Limited committed an offence punishable under Section 315 of the Penal Code.”

Particulars of count 12 reads: “That you, Geldaps Ezofom Services Limited, Geldaps Investment Nigeria Limited, Emmanuel Nehemiah, Thomas Dauda Boman, Jemila Abdulrahman Graba and Francis Kato between the 10^th of October.2012 and 8^th November 2012 at Abuja within the Jurisdiction of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory being entrusted with the sum of N1,000,000.00 by Paulina Turman Aboh as an investment in Geldaps investment Nigeria Limited committed criminal breach of trust in respect of the said sum and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 315 of the Penal Code.”

Justice Kolo ordered that the suspects be kept in prison custody and adjourned the case to March 30, 2015 for trial.