Lagos court remands two over alleged N71m fraud

A Federal High Court, Lagos, yesterday, remanded two Bureau De Change (BDC) Operators, Zakari Zadu and Jubrilla Yakubu in the custody of Nigerian Correctional Services (NCoS), over alleged N71 million fraud.

Justice Abimbola Awogboro ordered their remand after they pleaded not guilty to the three-count charge preferred against them by officers of Force Criminal Investigation Department (Force CID) (Annex) Alagbon-Ikoyi, Lagos, in charge numbered FHC/L/135c/2023.

Prior to their arraignment, the prosecutor, S. O. Ayodele, told the court that the defendants, some time in August 2022, conspired among themselves and fraudulently obtained the sum of N71 million from one Suleiman Jibbo, with the pretence of converting same to foreign currency.

He told the court that defendants after collecting the money from their victims, diverted same and used for their personal purposes.

Ayodele, said their offences border on conspiracy and stealing contrary to section 8(a) and 1(1)(c) and punishable under section 1(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and other Related Offences Act 2006, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria.

He also told the court that their action contradicts section 383 and punishable under section 390(9) of the Criminal Code Act, Cap C38, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

Following their not guilty plea, the prosecution asked for a trial date and urged the court to remand them till the determination of the charge.

Responding, the defence counsel, Bamidele Ibironke and John Ujah, informed the court that they have filed and served their clients’ bail applications on the prosecutor.

They added that the court’s bailiff is yet to bring it to court and
prayed for a short date for the hearing of the applications.

After listening to their submission, the judge subsequently adjourned the matter to March 31,2023, for hearing of the bail and April 18, 2023 for trial.

Justice Awogboro also ordered that the defendants be remanded in the NCoS custody till the hearing and determination of their bail application.