One Jude Muomah, a Bureau De Change (BDC) Operator, has been arraigned for allegedly defrauded his two of his customers of the sum of $50, 020 million USD and N22 million.
He was arraigned before a Federal High Court, Lagos presided over by Justice Oluremi Oguntoyinbo. The accused person was arraigned on seven counts charge bordering on stealing and obtaining under false pretense.
Muomah and others were alleged to have committed the offence on May 25, 2019, at 10, Olawaiye Street, Anifowoshe, Ikeja, Lagos.
Speaking during the arraignment, the prosecutor, Mr. Morufu Animashaun, the legal Officer of Force Criminal Intelligence and Investigation Department (ForceCIID, Alagbon, Ikoyi, Lagos, told the court that the defendant defrauded two of his clients, Ngozi Adirika Ifenyinwa and Ekwueme Stephen Onyebuchi, on the pretense that he will assist them to transfer the money to their customers.
Animashaun told the court that the defendant collected the total sum of $50,022 million belonging to Mercy Adaku Nwankwo, from Ngozi Adirika Ifenyinwa on the promise that he will assist her in sending it to her customers, whose names were given as Moshuri and Campucel.
The prosecutor also informed the court that the defendant and others now at large on May 24, 2019, at the same place, fraudulently obtained the sum of N22 million from one Ekwueme Stephen Onyebuchi, on the pretense of assisting him to send it to his suppliers in Dubai, the Unites Arab Emirates.
He told the court that the defendant, after defrauded the victims, went underground and that when the victims could not locate him, recourse to his department and reported the alleged fraud, adding that it took the frantic efforts of the department’s operatives before the defendant could be apprehended.
According to Animashaun, the offences contravened sections 8(a), 1(c), of the Advance Fee Fraud and other Fraud Related Offences Act No. 14 of 2006 and punishable under section 1(3) of the same Act.
And sections 390 (9) of the Criminal Code Act Cap C38 laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.
The defendant however pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Following his not guilty plea, prosecutor, Animashaun asked the court for a trial date and also urged the court to remand the defendant till the determination of the charge.
Responding, the defendant’s counsel, Mr. Anthony Mukoro, told the court that he was just briefed about the charge and asked the court for a short date, to enable him the defendant’s bail application.
After listened to the submissions of parties, Justice Oguntoyinbo, adjourned the matter till March 10 and 11, for defendant’s trial. The Judge also ordered that the defendant should be remanded in facility of Nigerian Correctional Services, till when his bail application will be filed and determined.
