2 suspected fraudsters charged for $2.25m scam
(Nigeria) The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission,
EFCC, has arraigned Alhaji Yerima Suleiman and Mr. Uwem Antia before Justice
Lawal Akapo of a Lagos State High Court sitting in Ikeja on a four-count charge
bordering on conspiracy, obtaining money by false pretence and forgery.
Yerima and Antia ran into troubles, when they were arrested
in March, 2015 by operatives of the EFCC for allegedly stealing the sum of $2.25million
from two bankers: Aginwa Gladys and Ale Dennis.
The suspects allegedly approached Aginwa and Dennis in
February, 2015, offering to sell foreign exchange to the tune of $10million to
them.
After agreeing on the exchange rate, a sum of N672. 75m was
transferred from BlueBeam Capital Investment Limited and Capital Field
Investment and Trust Limited into the account of one of the bankers: Smiles and
Light Limited. It was from the banker's account that the entire sum was moved
into Antia’s account: Kafisto Oil and Gas Limited.
Findings showed that the entire sum of N672.75m actually hit
Antia's account. A Bureau de Change operator who changed the money into its
dollar equivalent, told EFCC's investigators that he went with Antia to his
bank, along Bourdillon Road, Ikoyi, Lagos, where the transaction was confirmed.
The Bureau de Change operator further revealed that, Antia
subsequently transferred the sum of N666.25m into his own account. He said he
worked out the dollar equivalent of the money, which was $3.127m.
He said he could only give $3,124,000 to Antia, leaving a balance of $3,000 which he
promised to give him the next day.
Immediately Antia collected the foreign exchange, he
reportedly headed for Number 17A, Awolowo Road, Ikoyi, Lagos, where the two
bankers and his accomplice, Suleiman were waiting for him. However, rather than
handing over the entire foreign exchange to the bankers, he only gave them $1million
claiming that he could not source the entire amount.
He allegedly promised to give them a balance of $2,250,000 the
next day. This balance would be the dollar equivalent of the entire sum of the
transaction (N672, 750,000). The bankers
said that, since the day Antia and Suleman gave them the initial $1,000,000,
all efforts to reach them had proved abortive. "Their cell phones were
turned off", they said.
However, they lodged a complaint with the EFCC and
operatives of the Commission eventually arrested the two fraudsters.
The fraudsters, upon their arrest, claimed that they had
given one of the bankers, Dennis the balance of the money at the Murtala
Mohammed International Airport, Lagos, but investigations by the Commission,
showed that no such transaction took place.
Count one of the
charge read:
"Alhaji Suleiman and Mr. Antia on or about February 5,
2015 at Lagos within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court with intent to
defraud, conspired to obtain money by false pretence from Dennis Ale and Aginwa
Gladys.
Another count read:" Suleiman and Anita on or about February
6, 2015 at Lagos within the jurisdiction of this Honourable court, with intent
to defraud and in order to facilitate your obtaining money by false pretence
from Dennis Ale and Aginwa Gladys, forged acknowledgement of receipt dated February
6, 2015 purported to have been made by Dennis Ale."
When the charges were
read to them, they pleaded not guilty.
In view of their pleas, prosecution counsel, Gbolahan Latona
prayed for a trial date and the remand of the accused person in prison custody.
He told the court that the 1st accused person was also a
defendant in another fraud charge before another court.
However, 1st and 2nd defence counsel, Ali Adams and Kabril
Akingbolu said they have filed applications for bail and prayed the court for a
short adjournment for argument on their bail applications.
Justice Lawal Akapo adjourned the matter to November 9, 10, 11, 16, 17 and 18, 2015 and
ordered that the accused persons be remanded in Kirikiri maximum prison.
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