A Chartered Accountant, Omafume Augustina Ayinuola, and her mother, Lydia Abosede Ehrievuyere, have been arraigned before a Federal High Court, Lagos, over allegation of conspiracy and money laundering of N1,072,254,411 and $975,102.58.
The duo was arraigned along with their company, Patridia Resources Limited, before Justice Nicholas Oweibo by the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID) Annex, Alagbon, Ikoyi, Lagos.
They were arraigned on 15-count charge for offences bordering on conspiracy, unlawful conversion of funds and money laundering.
The prosecuting counsel, Morufu Animashaun, told the court that defendants committed the alleged offences between 2017 and 2021, at Trailer Park, Agbara, Lagos.
Animashaun said that the defendants committed the alleged fraud against some companies, which included: Oritsetimeyin Logistics Limited, PUO Assets Limited, Resolution Capital Limited, Pine Petosan Limited, Grace Capital Ltd, RsL International Limited, RsL Ventures Capital Limited, Grace & Mercy Capital Limited, Grace Assets Limited and one Peter Ukuoritsemofe Ololo.
He further told the court that the funds allegedly stolen by the defendants, were meant for the purchase and supplies of consumables for the office of the companies listed above.
The prosecutor told the court that the first defendant (Ayinuola) while working with the companies, used her position to illegally convert N1.07billion and $975,102.58 to her personal use.
He also told the court that the second defendant and her company, Ehrievuyere and Patridia Resources Limited, concealed the origin of the funds, which they received from the first defendant.
According to him, the second defendant used parts of the alleged illicit funds to purchase and develop her family house located at 14, Irawodidia Street, Obadore, Off LASU Road, Igando, Lagos.
He said their offences were contrary to the provision of Sections 8(a); 7 (1) (b)(i); 1 (3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act 2006 and punishable under Sections 1 (3) and 7 (2)(b) of the same Act.
The defendants pleaded not guilty to all the counts.
Following their plea, the prosecutor urged the court to remand them at the Kirikiri Female Section of the Nigerian Correctional Services (NCoS), till the determination of the charge.
He also prayed the court for trial dates.
But counsel to the defendants, J. O. Oladeji, told the court that he had filed bail applications and the same had been electronically served on the prosecutor earlier.
The counsel pleaded with the court to allow him move the application and admit his clients to bail.
In opposition, Animashaun said he needed time to respond to some issues raised in the applications.
After hearing from counsels, Justice Oweibo adjourned to August 23, for hearing of the bail applications.
He ordered that the defendants be remanded at the Kirikiri facility of the NCoS pending the hearing of the bail applications.
