Businessman remanded in prison for alleged N41.6m theft

A Lagos High Court in Ikeja yesterday remanded ‎a businessman, Okoro Samuel Uchechukwu, in Ikoyi Prison custody for allegedly stealing N41.6 million.

The presiding judge, Justice Mojisola Dada ordered the remand following his arraignment by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Uchechukwu was arraigned alongside his company, Jayjingo Nigeria Limited on a two-count charge of stealing and obtaining money under false pretence.

The anti-graft agency alleged that the defendant dishonestly stole and converted the money to his own use.

It claimed that the‎ property belongs to the Managing Director of Lovonus Trust and investment Limited, Onoja Usnman.

The defendant was said to have fraudulently obtained the money on the representation that he had $130.000.00 to sell to Usman.

His offence contravenes Sections 278 and 285 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State of Nigeria No 11, 2011 and Sections 1(1) and 1(3) of Advance Fee Fraud and other Related Offences Act No 14 of 2006.

The defendant counsel, Mrs. Janet Okile urged the court to grant his client bail. She said he is yet to perfect his bail conditions in another case in Port Harcourt prison.

The EFCC counsel, Samuel Gaji, ‎and the prison official confirmed the position of the defence counsel.

Justice Dada directed both counsels‎ to file application for bail and adjourned the matter till January 17,2018 for trial.

Meanwhile, Justice Rilwan Aikawa of a Federal High Court, Lagos has fixed January 31 to decide in a case involving a director of finance, Anifowoshe Muhammed Jamiu Alade.

The court is to decide whether to make final forfeiture order on the N28.5 million and some houses allegedly owned by him.

The court is also to decide whether the seized funds would be awarded to the Federal Government, Lagos State government, or be returned to the director.