N38.7m fraud: EFCC arraigns man

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Lagos Zonal office, on March 6, 2018, arraigned one Mohammed Kabiru before Justice S. O. Solebo of the Lagos State High Court sitting in Ikeja on a two-count charge bordering  on obtaining money by false pretence and stealing to the tune of Thirty- eight Million, Seven Hundred and Eighty-one Thousand, Eight Hundred Naira  (N38, 781, 800. 00).

One of the counts reads: " That you, Mohammed Kabiru, sometime in January 2014, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, with intent to defraud obtained the sum of N38, 781, 800. 00 (Thirty- eight Million, Seven Hundred and Eighty-one Thousand, Eight Hundred Naira Only) from Vincent Nwerem on the false pretence that you will pay the equivalence in Dollars, which representation you knew to be false and committed an offence contrary to Section 1(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act No. 14 of 2016."

The second count reads:" That you ,Mohammed Kabiru, sometime in January, 2014, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court,dishonestly stole the sum of N38, 781, 800. 00 ( Thirty- eight Million, Seven Hundred and Eighty-one Thousand, Eight Hundred Naira Only) property of Vincent Nwerem and committed an offence contrary to Sections 278 and 285(1) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State No. 11, 2011."

He pleaded not guilty to the charge when it was read to him.

In view of his plea, the prosecution counsel, Sesan Ola, asked the court for a trial date and prayed that the defendant be remanded in prison custody.

The defense counsel, Okere L. U. , however, told the court that bail application had been filed for the defendant, but that the prosecution had not responded.

Justice Solebo adjourned the case to March 15, 2018 for hearing of the bail application and commencement  of trial.

The  defendant was ordered to be remanded in prison custody pending the hearing and determination of his bail application.