A business woman Titilayo Eboh has been arraigned before Justice Mojisola Dada of the Special Offences Court in Ikeja over an alleged N1.8 billion fraud.
Others charged with business woman
The defendant alongside Chayomi Aluminum Limited and one Abubakar Funtua (now at large) were charged by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on three count charge of conspiracy to obtain money by false pretence, stealing and obtaining money by false pretence.
Part of the counts against the defendant with one other still at large reads that between December, 2, 2020 and January 25, 2021 at Lagos with intent to defraud obtained the cumulative sum N1.8 billion from one Mr. Olamayowa Abdulwasiu-Olabisi and Mr. Adekanmi Adedire of Himark Intertrades Limited under the false pretence that she have the United States Dollars equivalent of the said sum to exchange for them at the rate of N420 per dollar, a representation he knew to be false.
The anti-graft agency also submitted that the defendants dishonestly converted to her use the sum of N458.2 million equivalent of $1.9m at the exchange rate of N450 per dollar property of the complainants.
According to the prosecution, the alleged offences contravene Sections 1(1)(a) and 1(3) of the Advanced Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act No.14 of 2006.
The offence also violates Section 278 (1) of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State, 2011.
When the charge was read, the defendant, however, pleaded not guilty.
Following her plea, the Counsel to EFCC, Mr. Nnaemeka Omenwa, prayed the court that the defendant be remanded in appropriate custody pending the trial date.
EFCC counsel also told the court that the defence counsel sent a bail application from the sister case of the defendant before Justice Rahman Oshodi to his E-mail, saying he needed the clarification from the counsel to the defendant so that he would know the one to rely on before he file his response.
The defendant’s Counsel Chief Emefo Etudo said he was not a party to what happen before Oshodi.
Chief Etudo added that the prosecution should give him one hour before he would make hard copy of the defence available to the prosecution.
He further prayed the court to give multiple trial dates while bail application should be given earlier date for hearing in line with his discussion with the prosecution.
Justice Dada adjourned the bail application to March 24 and trial date was fixed for May 4, 2026.
