Court Remands Lawyer In Prison Custody For N117.3m Fraud
Justice Oluwatoyin Ipaye of the Lagos State High Court in Ikeja on Monday remanded a lawyer, Babatunde Ojo in prison custody for allegedly obtaining the sum of N117.3 million by false pretences.
The lawyer was arraigned before the court by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) alongside his company, Amberville Communications Limited on a 48-count charge of conspiracy, fraud, forgery and issuance of a dud cheque.
According to the counsel to the EFCC, Mrs. Vera Agboje, the lawyer committed the offences between April 2010 and August 2012 in Lagos.
Agboje further argued that Ojo obtained the said sum from one Mr Matthew Awodiya and his firm, First Hebron Homes and Investment Limited as part payment to purchase 50 Shops being constructed at Ajah area of Lagos.
The counsel to anti-graft agency . so clsimed that the shops were being constructed by Verod Capital Investment Limited and that the defendant forged the signature of one Eric Idiahi, to facilitate the fraud.
She further informed the court that the defendant issued various Standard Chartered Bank cheques in favour of the complainant which were dishonoured when presented due to insufficient funds in his account.
Agboje maintained that the offences is contrary to Section 1(3) and 8 (a) of the Advanced Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act of 2006.
The lawyer also insisted that the crime is punishable under Sections 363 (1) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2011 and 1(1)(a) of the Dishonoured Cheques (Offences) Act, Cap D11, Laws of Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
The accused persons, however pleaded not guilty to the charge.
Justice Ipaye has adjourned the case till March 18, 2015 for commencement of trial.
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