Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo of the Special Offences Court, Lagos has granted bail in the sum of N10 million to a-22-year old woman, Miracle Enodano on Tuesday.
She was re-arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, over allegation of fraud to the tune of N43.5 million.
The EFCC charged the defendant to court over an 8 count charge, bordering on obtaining money by false pretence, issuance of dud cheques, stealing amongst others.
The EFCC re-arraigned the defendant on an amended information dated 22nd July, 2022.
Part of the charge against the defendant stated, “Miracle Esse Enodano, SGMX Resources Limited and Mr. Ben Enodano, (now at large) on or about 5th January, 2021 in Lagos within the Ikeja Judicial Division of this Honourable Court with intent to defraud, induced one Mr. Adedoyin Akeem Balogun to execute a Segregated Trading Contract Agreement in the sum of N15,000,000 (Fifteen million Naira) to be managed by a broker, Hot Market Nigeria Limited, as investment on the understanding that after six months of investment you will give him 60% of the total investment as return, which pretence you knew was false.”
The counsel to EFCC also told the court that the defendant committed the offence with SGMX Resources Limited and Ben Enodano, who is now at large between January and March 2021 in Lagos.
Yerima also accused the defendant of inducing the complainant on November 24, 2018, to pay the sum of N14.5million into her Access Bank Account, as an investment into Bitcoin minning sever machines on the understanding that Bitcoin sever can generate $1000 per day a profit of the total investment which she knew was false.
Yerima also alleged that on November 25, 2018, with intent to defraud, Enodano, induced one Mr. and Mrs. Adebola Olagunju to pay the sum of N3million into her Access Bank account as Account Management Fee and Assurances for the safety of Segregated Trading Contract Agreement, under false pretence.
According to the prosecutor the offences committed contravened Sections 1 (1) (a) and 1(3) of the advanced fee fraud and other related offences Act No 14 of 2006, 1(1) of Dishonoured Cheques 2004 and Sections 278 (1) (2) and 285(1) of the criminal law of Lagos State 2011.
Upon her re-arraignment, she denied the charge.
Subsequently, Mr. Yerima, sought that the defendant be remanded in prison custody, but the defence counsel, Mrs. Abiodun Adepoju, objected, asking the judge to discountenance the request.
She argued that her client never at anytime jumped administrative bail, and has been in EFCC custody.
Counsel to the defendant, Mrs. Adepoju, in her 12 paragraph affidavit on bail application dated July 15, prayed the court to grant her client bail on liberal terms.
Adepoju argued that the defendant had credible family members who were ready to stand as sureties for her.
In a counter affidavit dated July 22, the EFCC counsel objected to the defendant’s bail application.
He argued that the defendant was being charged with serious crime but that he will leave it at the discretion of the court.
The vacation judge, Justice Taiwo granted the defendant N10 million bail with two sureties in like sum.
Taiwo ordered that the sureties must be gainfully employed, must be a level 16 officer of Lagos State Government and one of the sureties must be a blood relation of the defendant, be it a husband or brother.
She also added that the residential addresses of the sureties must be verified by the court.
Justice Taiwo however ordered that the defendant should be remanded in Kirikiri Correctional Centre pending the perfection of her bail conditions.
The case was adjourned till September 13 for trial.
