Lagos businessman arraigned for N39m fraud, conspiracy

A Lagos businessman, Olutoye Remi-John, has been arraigned for N39 million fraud and conspiracy by the Federal High Court.

Remi-John, the Director of TRJ Company Limited, is facing charges of conspiracy, obtaining property by false pretence, and conversion of N39 million. The court has also adjourned the trial to January 14, 2025.

According to the three-count filed by Police Legal Officer Zebedee Arekhandia from Zone Two Police Command, Onikan, Lagos, Remi-John and Ndukwe were accused of conspiring to defraud a businessman, Mr Michael Etieobhio Omofoma, by falsely offering to sell him a land for N60 million.

In count one, Remi-John and Ndukwe were charged with conspiracy to commit a felony on November 4, 2022, in Ikeja, Lagos.

The second charge accused Remi-John and Ndukwe of fraudulently obtaining N60 million from Mr Omofoma under the false representation that they would sell him a property located at No. 37, Aba Johnson Crescent, Off Adeniyi Jones Avenue, Ikeja.

In the third count, the prosecution alleged that between November 4 and December 31, 2022, Remi-John converted N39 million of the N60 million obtained from Omofoma for his benefit.

The charge further stated that he knew or reasonably should have known that the money was the proceeds of a criminal act.

This offence is punishable under Section 15(1) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011, as amended in 2012.

The duo allegedly intended to defraud by obtaining property under false pretences and converting the proceeds of the criminal act for personal use, in violation of Section 8(a) and punishable under Section 1(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud-Related Offences Act, 2006.