The Force Criminal Intelligence and Investigation Department (ForceCIID) Annex, Alagbon-Ikoyi, Lagos recently arraigned Chief Ona Chikweruba and Rufus Okeke over alleged N17 million fraud.
The accused persons were arraigned before an Igbosere Chief Magistrate’s Court, Lagos, for allegedly obtaining the sum of N17 million, under false pretence and conspiracy. The two men were arraigned before Magistrate L. Y. Balogun (Mrs.).
According to the Legal officer of ForceCIID, Alagbon, Barrister Morufu Animashaun, the defendants allegedly committed the offence sometimes in the year 2016, at IHS area, Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos. Animashaun told the court that the two men and others now at large, with an intent to defraud, collected the sum of N17 million, from one Celestine Odukwo, with the promise of supplying him of selling to him scrap batteries and inverters.
The prosecutor said the defendants and others involved in the illicit act disappeared into tiny air after receiving the above mention amount, stating that it took the operatives of ForceCIID several years before the defendants could be apprehended and brought before the court.
According to Animashaun, the offences committed by the defendants are contrary to sections 411, 314(1) and 280(1) of the Criminal laws Cap. C17, Vol. 3 of Lagos State, 2015 and punishable under 314(3) and 287(3) of the same law.
Chief Ona Chikweruba and Rufus Okeke however pleaded not guilty to the charges. The presiding magistrate, Mrs. Balogun, after taken submissions on their bail applications, admitted each of the defendants to bail in the sum of N1 million with two sureties each.
Mrs. Balogon also ordered that each of the sureties must be tax payers for three years to the Lagos State government and must be residents of Lagos State. The matter has been adjourned till December 16, for mention.
